Paper Packaging Volume To Grow, Profitability To Plumb Lows: Crisil

Crisil Ratings has said that the domestic paper packaging companies are likely to see sale volumes grow 5  to 7 per cent on-year this fiscal, up from 3 per cent last fiscal, due to improving demand from end-user industries. This modest uptick in growth will be gradual and more visible in the second half of this fiscal.

The realisations on the other hand, may not keep pace with raw material prices, driving down paper packaging companies’ operating margins by around 100 basis points to their lowest level of 8 per cent this fiscal, as compared to a decadal average of 11 to 13 per cent and 9 per cent last fiscal.

That said, capital expenditure (capex) is expected to remain modest and will be largely for debottlenecking and modernisation, given the adequate capacity. This will keep debt under control, aiding the overall credit risk profile.

Packaging paper, mainly comprising kraft paper and duplex board, is used to pack pharmaceuticals, e-commerce goods, consumer durables, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and readymade garments.

“We believe the volume growth this fiscal will be led by increased consumption in the FMCG, pharmaceuticals and consumer durables segments, which together comprise 55 to 60 per cent of the demand for paper packaging. Demand is expected to improve from both, rural consumers, as a better monsoon benefits agricultural output and incomes, and urban markets, because of higher disposable income," said Aditya Jhaver, Director, Crisil Ratings.

Kraft paper prices have increased by only 10 per cent between October 2023 and July 2024, while the industry has witnessed a significant 25 per cent increase in the international wastepaper (the key raw material) price to USD 230 per tonne due to higher freight costs and supply delays amid geopolitical uncertainties.

“Paper packaging companies may pass on these higher wastepaper prices only gradually to end-user industries, given the modest recovery in demand and high competition from cheaper imports. However, moderation in coking coal price (15 per cent of total cost), will offer some respite, thus limiting the extent of profitability decline to 100 bps this fiscal," said  Gaurav Arora, Associate Director, Crisil Ratings. 

Amidst the weakening of profit margins, players have opted to not scale up capacities, as a result, utilisation is expected to improve to 90 per cent this fiscal from 85 per cent last year. Thus, the leverage of paper makers rated by Crisl Ratings as denoted by the debt to Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) ratio will likely remain comfortable at below two times (similar to last fiscal).

That said, delayed recovery in end-user consumption or adverse movement in input prices could pose downside risks and will bear watching, it added.