RURAL DEMAND

FMCG sector revenue is projected to grow 7-9% this fiscal, driven by rural revival, urban demand, and rising disposable incomes. Crisil Ratings indicates premiumisation will boost margins by 50-75 basis points despite marketing expenses. Rabindra Ve...

CRISIL forecasts 7-9% revenue growth for the FMCG sector in the current fiscal year, driven by increased volume and rural demand recovery. The report highlights stable product prices in personal care and home care, while food and beverages face mode...

Scorching summer heat and elections created a mixed quarter for consumer goods, with sales of cooling products like beverages, ice creams, talcum powder, and sunscreens rising up to 15 per cent amidst the heatwave. However, impulse snacks and single...

The government's agricultural focus in India, along with initiatives to boost rural incomes, is expected to sustain tractor demand despite a 7 per cent industry sales decline reported by Swaraj Engines Ltd. The company's annual report highlights opp...

Consumers have increased their spending on daily essentials, groceries, and household products by 18% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to two years ago, according to a recent Kantar report. Despite a recent softening in commodity prices, the pr...

Vineet Agrawal, CEO of Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, noted positive signs of growth in rural demand and anticipates a recovery in the hinterland by September, supported by favorable monsoon conditions and a successful harvest. Furthermore, he su...

"We believe a likely surge in rural credit demand, higher affordability and government push toward financial inclusion with ease of regulations in the microfinance sector. A likely credit-linked subsidy scheme (CLSS) in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojan...

The Prime Minister approved the 17th instalment of the PM Kisan Nidhi Scheme, benefiting 93 million farmers with around ₹20,000 crore. This move is seen as a boost to rural demand and consumer stocks. The new coalition government is expected to focu...

In a symbolic move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first action after being sworn in for a third term was releasing the 17th PM-KISAN installment, providing financial relief to 9.3 crore farmers. With a weaker mandate, the government is expected to ...

Demand for work under India's rural job guarantee scheme, MGNREGS, dropped for a seventh consecutive month in May, signaling improved economic conditions at the start of the fiscal year. About 37.46 million individuals sought work, down 12.1% from t...

Investor money is shifting to defensive shares like FMCG, healthcare, and information technology following the lower-than-anticipated seats for the BJP in recent elections. Marico, Godrej Consumer, Nestle India, ITC, Britannia, HUL, and Dabur saw si...

Companies such as Hindustan Unilever (HUL), Britannia, Dabur, Hero Motocorp, Westlife Foodworld, Shoppers Stop and others have already indicated in their commentary a gradual demand recovery if the monsoon forecast turns out to be accurate.

FMCG major ITC notes subdued Q4 consumption but rural demand recovery. Q4 profit below estimates at Rs 5,190 crore; revenue up 2% to Rs 19,446.5 crore. Cigarette revenue rises 7.7%, FMCG (excluding cigarettes) up 7.2%, impacted by low priced Chinese...

Hindustan Unilever (HUL) reported a strong performance in the last fiscal year despite challenges in the macroeconomic environment, including erratic rainfall affecting agricultural output and rural demand. Chairman Nitin Paranjpe noted a gradual de...

Overall volumes, which indicate the number of products consumers bought, expanded 5.2% in the March quarter, unchanged from the three months to December. Sales volumes in rural markets climbed 5.8%, and in cities by 4.7%, from a year earlier, data f...

Rural FMCG demand outpaced urban markets in Jan-Mar 2024. Car companies reported higher rural sales. NielsenIQ noted 7.6% rural growth. Factors include robust rabi crop and government measures. Maruti Suzuki saw record rural sales.

In the January-March ’24 quarter, rural markets surpassed urban consumption for packaged consumer goods for the first time in five quarters, with rural growth at 7.6% while urban demand declined by 5.7%. Overall FMCG sector value grew by 6.6% driven...

FMCG giant Dabur has increased its rural footprint, driving demand for its brands by nearly 400 bps compared to urban areas. The company has increased investments in consumer activation in rural areas and launched newer affordable and rural-specific...

While volume growth was tepid to modest for the three companies, gross margins have expanded. Margin expansion has been achieved through better operational efficiency or productivity gains. Taking price rises, lowering ad spends and rationalising co...