During the quarter, the flexible packaging industry experienced pressure on margins due to the commissioning of several new production lines within a short span of 4-5 months. The bunching of capacity expansions caused temporary imbalance in the demand supply scenario. Margins were also under pressure in the overseas subsidiaries due to increased raw material costs and the weakening of foreign currencies against the US dollar. 

However, the company’s sustained focus on specialty films in the last 2-3 years and ongoing improvement of internal efficiencies helped achieve higher EBITDA despite the margin pressure.

The company’s annualised ROCE and ROE stand at 27% and 36% respectively with TTM EPS increasing to Rs 150.

According to Pankaj Poddar, Group CEO, Cosmo First, the demand-supply balance should be restored over the next few quarters with strong organic growth in domestic demand and geo-political normalcy returning in Europe. “In the meantime, our specialty films portfolio, which accounts for more than 65% of our sales and which is growing quarter-on-quarter, would enable us to hold strong,”

Poddar added, “In the packaging business, we expect the growth journey to continue with specialty films. Our continued thrust on innovating films with lower carbon footprints would further strengthen our leadership position in specialty films. During the quarter, our specialty chemicals business posted a three-fold increase in revenue over last year. Our petcare vertical, Zigly, now has four experience centres. We target to have 15 experience centres by FY23.”

In coming years, the company’s growth will be driven by an expanded portfolio of speciality films, commissioning of specialised polyester line and capacity expansion of CPP and BOPP films as well as innovative multi products offering in specialty chemicals and growth in the omni-channel ecosystem for pet care.”