Aditya Birla group, Hindalco Industries reported 80 per cent decline in its consolidated net profit in the financial year 2009, primarily, due to a slump in demand and low metal prices, in the wake of global financial crisis. The period witnessed almost 50 per cent reduction in demand due to postponements of orders by customers.

The firm's net profit, including figures of Canadian aluminium major Novelis, stood at Rs 485 crore for the year ended March 2009, against Rs 2,193 crore in the last year. The country's largest metals company reported 10 per cent increase in its net revenue at Rs 65,625 crore during the period. It reported almost stable operating profit at around Rs 550 crore for the entire financial year 2008-09.

Commenting on the prevailing scenario, Hindalco MD Debu Bhattacharya, said: "We are going through a very challenging environment. I have never seen such a sharp fall in base metal prices within such a short time."

The firm plans to invest around Rs 25,000-30,000 crore in the coming years to expand its business, hoping improvement in the global demand for metals by 2013.