Huhtamaki India Q1 CY26 Earnings Call: Margins Expand, Costs Passed Through

4 min read     Updated on 19 May 2026, 06:46 AM
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Huhtamaki India's Q1 CY26 earnings call highlighted strong margin expansion with EBITDA up 24.80% YoY, stable net sales of Rs. 5,936 million, and an EBIT margin of 8.0% excluding a one-off Rs. 88 million prior-period depreciation charge. Management confirmed effective raw material cost pass-throughs, selective growth strategy focused on premium FMCG customers, and sustainability milestones including a solar captive project at Khopoli and a 67% reduction in total recordable injuries.

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Huhtamaki India Limited filed the transcript of its Q1 CY26 Earnings Conference Call, held on May 13, 2026, with BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd., pursuant to Regulation 30(6) read with Part A of Schedule III of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. The call was hosted by ICICI Securities Limited and moderated by Mr. Mohit Mishra. The management was represented by Mr. Kamal Taneja, Managing Director, and Mr. Amit Gupta, Chief Financial Officer. The transcript was submitted on May 18, 2026, and is also available on the company's website.

Financial Performance Overview

Management highlighted stable top-line performance alongside significant margin improvement for Q1 CY26. Net sales were up 10 basis points year-on-year, reflecting the company's selective participation strategy focused on higher-value, innovation-led business. The following key metrics were discussed during the call:

Metric: Q1 CY26 Q1 CY25 Change (YoY)
Net Sales: Rs. 5,936 million Rs. 5,930.4 million +10 bps
EBITDA: Rs. 620.8 million Rs. 497.5 million +24.80%
EBIT (Reported): Rs. 386 million Rs. 370.7 million +4.0%
EBIT (Excl. prior period dep.): Rs. 473.7 million Rs. 370.7 million +27.80%
PBT (Excl. exceptional item): Rs. 438.4 million Rs. 340.5 million +28.80%
Profit for the Period: Rs. 256.0 million Rs. 261.5 million -2.10%
EPS (Reported): Rs. 3.39 Rs. 3.46 -2.10%
EPS (Excl. exceptional item): Rs. 4.26 Rs. 3.40 +25.50%

CFO Amit Gupta noted that EBIT was impacted by a one-off prior-period depreciation charge of Rs. 88 million relating to FY 2024 and FY 2025, arising from an error where depreciation was calculated on the Written Down Value (WDV) basis instead of the company's stated Straight Line Method (SLM). Excluding this charge, EBIT margins improved by 27.80% year-on-year, and the reported EBIT margin of 8.0% was in line with Q4 of the prior year and approximately 170 basis points higher than Q1 of the prior year. Profit for the period stood at Rs. 256.0 million, down 2.10% year-on-year due to this adjustment; excluding the prior-year charge, profit before such postings was up approximately 23.10%.

Raw Material Costs and Pass-Through Mechanism

Management addressed investor queries on raw material cost pressures, noting a low-to-medium double-digit impact on input costs following geopolitical developments towards end of March. Availability of raw materials was confirmed to be unaffected, with the company leveraging its global procurement network to source materials from multiple regions. Mr. Taneja stated that the company was among the first in its parent group's global network to implement price pass-throughs to customers, with most future orders locked in at revised pricing by end of March. Management confirmed that the cost increases were being passed on in a transparent manner consistent with contractual arrangements, and that margin impact was expected to be minimal. The full impact on the business would be clearer after the close of the second quarter.

Strategy and Market Positioning

Mr. Taneja reiterated the company's focus on profitable growth through selective participation, premiumisation, and innovation. Management acknowledged that while the broader Indian flexible packaging market may be growing at 10%–12%, the company's addressable segment — primarily large multinational FMCG customers — typically grows at a lower rate of approximately 2%–5% annually, with regional and smaller customers growing faster from a lower base. The company stated that capacity is not a constraint at present, with room available to support organic growth. On inorganic opportunities, management indicated that acquisitions are not currently under active consideration, with the near-term focus remaining on strengthening operations and capturing organic demand aligned with the company's value proposition.

During the call, it was also disclosed that a property in Daman has been put up for sale following the curtailment of operations at that location. Regarding an ECB loan from the parent company, management clarified that the repayment timeline extending to June 2027 is in compliance with RBI guidelines, and that the service cost is benchmarked to returns earned on fixed deposits maintained by the company.

Sustainability Highlights

Mr. Taneja outlined progress across the company's four sustainability pillars during the quarter:

Pillar: Update
People (Safety): Total Recordable Injuries reduced by 67% year-on-year
Climate: Formal agreement executed for solar captive electricity project at Khopoli plant; go-live expected in H2 2026
Nature (Water): Khopoli, Rudrapur, and Silvassa plants maintain Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) status
Product: Increased adoption of post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials; solvent consumption reduction ongoing across all plants

Reporting Schedule

Management confirmed the upcoming financial results calendar as follows:

Event: Date
Financial Result Q2 and H1 2026: July 21, 2026
Financial Result Q3 and Q1–Q3 2026: October 27, 2026

The transcript was signed by Abhijaat Sinha, Company Secretary & Legal Counsel of Huhtamaki India Limited, and the filing is accessible via the company's investor relations contact at investor.communication@huhtamaki.com .

Historical Stock Returns for Huhtamaki PPL

1 Day5 Days1 Month6 Months1 Year5 Years
-2.47%+1.51%-6.60%-22.46%-18.61%-44.63%

How successfully will Huhtamaki India's price pass-through mechanism hold in Q2 CY26 if geopolitical-driven raw material cost pressures intensify further, and what is the risk of customer pushback or volume loss?

Could Huhtamaki India's selective participation strategy focused on large MNC FMCG customers become a structural growth constraint if regional and smaller packaging players continue capturing faster-growing market segments?

What is the expected timeline and valuation outcome for the Daman property sale, and how will the proceeds be deployed given management's current stance against acquisitions?

Huhtamaki India 76th AGM: All 6 Resolutions Passed with Requisite Majority

2 min read     Updated on 09 May 2026, 04:02 AM
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Huhtamaki India Limited held its 76th AGM on May 8, 2026, via Video Conferencing, with 36,550 registered shareholders as of the cut-off date and 55 members attending virtually. All six resolutions, including dividend declaration of Re.2/- per equity share, director re-appointment, two special resolutions for Whole-time Director appointments, and cost auditor remuneration ratification, were passed with over 99.9% shareholder assent.

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Huhtamaki India Limited held its 76th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday, May 8, 2026, through Video Conferencing (VC) and Other Audio-Visual Means (OAVM), with the meeting commencing at 2:30 p.m. and concluding at 4:31 p.m. All six resolutions placed before the members were passed with the requisite majority, as confirmed by the scrutinizer's report submitted by S. N. Ananthasubramanian & Co., Company Secretaries. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Murali Sivaraman, and was attended by the full Board of Directors, Chief Financial Officer, and representatives of the statutory and secretarial auditors.

Meeting Overview

The AGM was convened to discuss various statutory and business matters, including the adoption of financial statements for the financial year ended December 31, 2025. A total of 36,550 shareholders were registered as of the cut-off date of May 1, 2026. Of these, 55 members attended through Video Conferencing — 1 from the Promoter and Promoter Group and 54 from the public. The remote e-voting facility was provided by the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL), with the voting window open from May 5, 2026, to May 7, 2026. A total of 34,253 members were registered via email. Additionally, 21 members had registered their interest for speaking and asking questions, sharing their views on the company's performance and business during the meeting.

Mr. Kamal Taneja, Managing Director, and Mr. Amit Gupta, Chief Financial Officer, made a presentation to the members on the company's performance during the Financial Year 2025. The Chairman, along with the Managing Director and CFO, responded to questions raised by members and noted their suggestions and comments.

Resolution Results

The resolutions presented at the AGM covered financial approvals, director appointments, and auditor remuneration. Shareholders approved a dividend of Re.2/- per equity share (100%) on equity shares. The voting pattern indicated strong shareholder approval across the board, with assent votes consistently exceeding 99.9% for all items. The detailed voting figures for each resolution are summarized below.

Voting Summary

Item No: Resolution Description Type Total Votes Assent (%) Dissent (%)
1 Adoption of Financial Statements for FY 2025 Ordinary 5,23,81,131 99.98 0.02
2 Declaration of Dividend on Equity Shares Ordinary 5,23,84,038 100.00 0.00
3 Re-appointment of Mr. Axel Glade (DIN: 10780455) Ordinary 5,23,84,038 99.96 0.04
4 Appointment of Ms. Ramya Mohan (DIN: 11593706) as Whole-time Director Special 5,23,84,038 100.00 0.00
5 Appointment of Mr. Vinit Mahadevan (DIN: 11588535) as Whole-time Director Special 5,23,84,038 100.00 0.00
6 Ratification of Cost Auditors Remuneration for FY 2026 Ordinary 5,23,84,148 100.00 0.00

Key Appointments and Approvals

Shareholders voted to re-appoint Mr. Axel Glade, who retires by rotation, as a Non-Executive Director. The company also received approval through special resolutions for the appointment of Ms. Ramya Mohan and Mr. Vinit Mahadevan as Directors and Whole-time Directors of the company. The dividend of Re.2/- per equity share (100%) on equity shares was declared through an ordinary resolution. Additionally, the remuneration payable to the Cost Auditors for the financial year ending December 31, 2026, was ratified. The results have been disseminated to the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) and BSE Limited, and are available on the company's website.

Historical Stock Returns for Huhtamaki PPL

1 Day5 Days1 Month6 Months1 Year5 Years
-2.47%+1.51%-6.60%-22.46%-18.61%-44.63%

How might the newly appointed Whole-time Directors Ms. Ramya Mohan and Mr. Vinit Mahadevan influence Huhtamaki India's strategic direction and operational priorities for FY 2026?

Given the modest dividend of Re.2/- per share declared for FY 2025, what factors could drive a more substantial dividend payout in future years as the company's financial performance evolves?

How is Huhtamaki India positioned to capitalize on growing sustainable packaging demand in India, and what capital allocation decisions might the new leadership team prioritize?

More News on Huhtamaki PPL

1 Year Returns:-18.61%