Patanjali Foods Limited analyst Q&A

Thank you, sir. The first question comes from the line of Binay Shukla with PhillipCapital India. Please go ahead.

Hi, sir. Just a quick question on biscuit category. So can you help us like what was category growth for 4Q? And second question is...

Your voice coming very muffled. Excuse me, your voice is very muffled and unclear.

Is it better now?

Yes, it's a little better.

Just quickly on the biscuit category. So I just wanted to know what was the category growth for last quarter? And second is, since we have reported close to 14% Y-o-Y growth for this quarter -- sorry, for previous quarter, just wanted to know whether this growth was in line with the company expectation or below expectation? And lastly, just wanted to know any idea how was the category shaping out in the last 2 months?

So biscuits, as I mentioned, our growth, if I were to compare it to the previous quarter, there has been a slight slowdown in terms of sequentially between Q3 and Q4, very marginal one. But if I were to compare with Q4 last year, Q4 '25 versus Q4 this year , the growth has been very healthy. So the prime reason for this marginal dip in the growth is clearly some disruption that we've noticed in the overall consumption pattern, some bit of seasonality because, sort of as I mentioned, that very substantive part of our business is in the doodh biscuit. And there's a bit of seasonality when we get into this particular season. But broadly, as I mentioned, that overall, in terms of the growth, it's been more than 15% (Note: It is an approximate number, actual number is close to 13%) year-on-year, sequentially quarter- on-quarter marginal dip. But overall, the target that we continue to place for ourselves is upwards in high double digits. And that we are pretty confident of achieving in the year ahead as well.

Sir, what was the category growth for last quarter?

Sorry, category growth in the biscuits you are asking?

Yes, yes, for biscuit only.

No, no, that's what I mentioned that the category growth in the biscuits overall was marginal dip in the revenue. It was INR490 crores in Q3 versus INR478 crores, so there's about INR12 crores of drop. But as I mentioned, the reason was the seasonal dip that we typically encounter in the last quarter always of the fiscal. So that was pretty standard, which was also, if I were to compare it to the previous last year also, it would be pretty much similar phase. It's either flat to marginal dip what we see in the fourth quarter. And then the uptick starts from the summer months starts to approach. So this quarter, for example, we'll see an enhancement. Go to Q2, it will continue to pick up, keep peaking until the third quarter. And then there's a slight flattening in the fourth quarter. And again, then there's a pickup.

Understood, sir. Sir, how is the category shaping out in last 2 month s, talking about April and May month?

April, May, as I mentioned, season wise it's a good window that we have in Q1 always at the beginning of the year because the season starts to pick up, and the momentum continues to build over Q2 and Q3. So we'll have a substantial uptick compared to INR478 crores that we had in the previous quarter. In the Q4 of '26, we should have an uptick quite a substantive one.

Yes, helpful, sir. That's all from my side. Thank you.

Thank you.

Yes. Hi, sir. Thank you for the opportunity. Specifically on the Foods business. So we've reported staples revenues of INR850 crores, and I think the ethnic foods revenues at around INR600 crores. This seems to be a decline Y-o-Y, if I have my numbers right, I think there seems to be a mid-teens decline on a Y-o-Y basis in the Foods business with these revenues. So just wanted to check, we were showing quite a good recovery in the last quarter. So what seems to be driving this decline? What is the issue in this current quarter, which has driven this decline? And also if there is any one -off in the tax rate seems to be quite low for the quarter? Yes. Thanks.

Yes. So basically 2 main reasons we had 2 significant sort of changes that have occurred and primarily on account of the market environment. One is in the staples , rice as a category has gone down quite substantially overall for this year and again, pretty much in the fourth quarter as well. And similarly in the ghee as well that there's a seasonal softness typically that happens in the Middle East crisis that we saw. So there was quite almost INR129 crores sort of drop that we had in the ghee sales, but that is largely on account of the peak summer months the early onset of the summers, the crisis in terms of the bit of drop in the sales that happened. So broadly, the rice and ghee were the prime drivers for the reduction in the sales. But overall basis, if I were to look at on a sequential basis, yes, you're right, there is a drop. And of nearly if I were to compare INR35 crores (This was said erroneously, actual drop is of 32%) on an overall basis, if I were to look at is almost INR98 crores of drop in staples overall on a 12- month basis, and almost there's an uptick of what we had in the ethnic foods. But quarter-on-quarter basis, yes, there is a drop of nearly quite a substantive number of nearly INR400 crores (Actual number is 406.84) that we saw dropping largely on account of the staples rice that drop what we saw.

Right. And sir, are we expecting this to reverse in the coming quarters?

It will. I mean, look, there are two things, which are Abhishek, which are driving this change. One is that staples is undergoing a sig nificant shift right now on ac count of drought -like conditions which are likely to emerge now. And second is the government policies that we might witness. There might be a bit of overreach there potentially. So that may have some impact. But broadly, the numbers that we have projected have taken all these into account, but there could be some bit of disruption on these two accountsand third one, of course, is the war. But I would say the larger issue is the potential impact of the El Nino. And the disruption that it may ensure on account of the government policies, that may have some impact on the overarching theme because war is largely discounted. We have accounted for it in everything, but these are only two things which are there. But still in terms of the plans going forward, we're pretty confident that we should be able to meet the objectives that we have for the business.

Got it, sir. And the tax rate, was there any one-off?

That Rajesh ji can answer better in terms of the tax rate one-off. Rajesh Ji, any comments?

You meant to say GST tax rate?

Sir, if I -- so I think INR40 crores of the current tax plus the deferred tax that we have is about - - just about a 10% tax rate on the PBT. We have had a history of about INR20 crores odd?

I understood. Basically, we are having refund process into the earlier assessment year. So we have got very good assessment post CIRP. Basically, we claimed our expenditures and we offered income for the write -back of a loan amount during the CIRP when we took over the company. The assessment was completed now and we are getting refunds. So our earlier tax has been adjusted from the current tax demand. That's why tax has not been shown here.

Sir, can you quantify that adjustment that you have made?

That refund during last year, we got refund near about INR788 crores, including INR330 crores in the fourth quarter.

Great, sir. And just one final bookkeeping question, Sanjeev sir, if you can give us the EBITDA for the divisions in terms of HPC, biscuits, staples and ethnic foods the EBITDA numbers for the quarter, please?

I can give you that. So for the Foods business EBITDA, for the quarter we had INR72 crores. Then for the biscuits business, we had an EBITDA of INR65 crores; Nutraceuticals, we had INR2 crores and for nutrela, we hadINR16.85 crores.

Sorry, when you said Food INR72 crores, that was staples or was it ethnic foods or was it combined?

It was combined.

Combined.

So otherwise, if you want the break up, we have INR66 crores from the ethnic foods and staples was INR5.46 crores, the breakup of INR72 crores.

Right, sir. In HPC finally?

And HPC, we had an EBITDA of INR136 crores.

Great, sir. That’s all from me. Thanks and all the best.

Hi team. Good evening. Just one bookkeeping question. What would be our Nutrela revenue for Q4 as well as the full year?

So Nutrela revenue for Q4 is INR106 crores and for the year is INR527 crores.

Thank you. That’s it from my side.

The next question comes from the line of Dhiraj Mistry with Jefferies. Please go ahead.

Yes. Hi, good evening. Sir, my first question is on the volume growth of edible oil for the quarter as well as for the full year o r you can give absolute volume also for the quarter and for the full year?

Yes. So total absolute volume, what we had is on the edible oil alone. So there are two ways, Dhiraj, we look at. One is that we do in the edible alone and second is the oil seeds combined with the other products as well. So edible oil, we did 20.3 lakh tons in terms of the volume. And last year, it was 18.84 lakh tons. And overall aggregate basis, if I were to combine the entire segment of the edible oil as we report, so that is 25.1 lakh tons versus 23.64 lakh tons in the last year.

Okay. And sir, second question is on balance sheet. So we have seen significant increase in our receivable days as well as there is an increase in lo an borrowing also. How do we look this number going ahead? Would it remain at current level or would it decline over the period?

So Dhiraj, I would request Rajesh ji to answer this question. And yes, please Rajesh Ji.

So Dhiraj, looking into the market conditions and geopolitical scenario, we have extended credit to our customers also, that is one of the reasons to grow our debtors you can see and near about INR700 crores to INR800 crores. On the other side, we have also secured our raw materials by paying in advance to our vendors for the future requirement. That's why our borrowings have been increased significantly, you can say. But going forward, obviously, we endeavour to collect all our receivables within q uarter or two and rationalize all the advances and procure the raw materials on a cash basis like earlier, if geopolitical situation permits.

Got it. And Sanjeev ji, can you throw some light in terms of guidance for your food business as well as HPC business? Edible oil, I understand that there would be volatility because of the raw material prices in terms of top line. But what kind of volume growth do you expect in edible oil for FY 27 and likewise what kind of revenue guidance growth you would go for your food business as well as HPC business? And also, if you can throw some light on margins on this each segment?

Yes. So reasonably comfortable with that. I think our volume growth in the veg oils will remain pretty much in the ballpark of 3% to 5%, which is what the anticipation is what India will sort of grow as well, and so that's one. Second is on the food side. Our growth on a blended basis, if I were to combine all the businesses. I think we should be anywhere between 8% to 10% is the growth that we should see in the foods category, overall foods portfolio and about 15% is the growth objective that we have for the HPC, Home & Personal Care. And margin guidance wise, I think some bit of what you saw the tapering off in the foods this year. I think that will get rationalized. And I think we should be pretty much on course , so in the veg oil, we'll be just a little south of 4%. I think we should be very close because I'm anticipating very positive outcome of whatever is happening geopolitically or otherwise. So it should be positive for us. So, a little slightly below 4%. On the HPC side, we'll be closer to 18% plus as we rationalize and I think maybe even higher. So that business, as I mentioned right in the beginning when we took over the business also that the efficiencies and the growth will drive us towards 200 basis points of improvement over what it was doing under the parent. And the third one is the Foods overall as a portfolio. I think we should be closer to 10% because some bit of blip that we saw last year on account of various changes that happened, I think should be behind us. So, net-net, overall, I would say that we should have definitely on a blended basis compared to the overall sort of the EBITDA, that we have in the business. I think we should see a good growth of anywhere between 12% to 15% growth for the next year.

Got it. And lastly, from my side is, would you like to comment from the near -term perspective on edible oil margin as well as top line in light of Indonesia or let’s say there is a restriction of export from Indonesia palm oil. How it would impact our business in the near term, both in terms of revenue as well as in terms of margins?

So overall, Indonesia has no choice, but to export to the demand countries like India. And this whole centralization, and the canalization almost what they're proposing. So that has thrown a bit of a spanner in the works of smooth flow, what was happening through the private trade. So short term, that volatility will be there. But as I mentioned earlier, that , this particular volatility is helpful for any large player, which typically does long-only business. And for companies like us, I think it's overall beneficial. So even in the short term, also, I expect quarter 1 of FY27 to be very positive, which should pretty much continue into Q2 also. And likewise, on our oilseeds crush side also, I think we should be positive. So, all these uncertainties in the marketplace, which is spiking the market are largely beneficial for any large player which is holding onto the positions with an idea to buy first and sell later is beneficial for near term. In terms of the volume growth, despite whatever is going on, I think fundamentally, we are still projecting between 3% to 5% growth for the country's consumption also, despite the call to reduce the consumption. I'm not expecting much of a change because India is still at the lower end of the curve of the consumption. So, I think that growth momentum will continue. And we will see that growth in the consumption. And I think that should benefit player like us. And we are not projecting anything greater than what the country's consumption will grow. So, the overall market growth, I think we should be quite aligned to that.

Got it. Thank you very much, sir.

Thank you, Dhiraj.

The next question comes from the line of Abhishek Mathur with Systematix. Please go ahead.

Hi, sir. Thank you for the follow -up opportunity. Just wanted to check, maybe I missed the number, if you can give again, the volume growth that we saw in edible oils for the quarter and for the year? And also, what kind of price hikes have you taken so far over March, April, May? If you can talk about the blended -- the overall blended or parts of the portfolio where you have taken hikes. Yes, that's it.

So, the edible oil, we grew in terms of the overall consumption, nearly 80,000 tons between Q3 and Q4 of FY26. And in terms of the volume terms, and of course, on a 12-month basis between FY25 and FY26, we grew 1.5 lakh tons overall. And the price hike, as I mentioned, Abhishek, is that it's almost literally on a daily basis, it's almost 100% pass-through that we go through. So, the price spike, I don't have it in front of me, but the prices rose anywhere between 10% to 15%, 14% overall, and where we have pretty much kept consistent, that our prices went up accordingly as well.

Got it, sir. And on the foods?

Sorry, for the palm, soya and sun, mustard being a largely domestic crop. So that that's slightly trailed and which is where a lot of demand has started coming back to the mustard oil. But overall, of the palm, soya and sun between 10% and 14%, we pretty much were consistent how the market moved, our prices moved as well.

Very clear, sir. And on the Foods and HPC side of the business, the price hikes that we've taken so far?

The price hikes in the overall basis, we have not taken too much of a price spike barring a few commodities like pulses, like rice, and sort of the staples side, we have taken a price rise. On ghee, we took a price rise. In the third quarter onwards, we started sort of moving up. And there, we took a price rise. But overall, on the ethnic foods overall, we haven't taken other than ghee. And balance on the staples, it was pretty much across the board that where the price rise has happened, and the range has been between 2% and 5% across the board.

And sir, with these hikes, do we think that this is sufficient to cover the inflation that we have seen or we are expecting to take some further hikes?

No. So the Inflation impact is going to be witnessed now. So far, what has happened is that it's a phenomenon pretty much in the last 4 weeks that we're seeing the prices. Finally, the market is pricing in the news of drought, the potential El Nino impact and the disruption in the supplies now. So, I think in this quarter, we'll have to see that. But as I was mentioning, on the staple side, it was between 2% and 4%. And the balance side on this quarter, we'll have to see that how the price will behave, but we are seeing some uptick in the prices. So, there we may have to take that step.

Right. So, thanks. That's all from me. Thanks, and all the best.

The next question comes from the line of Dhiraj Mistry with Jefferies. Please go ahead.

Yes. Sorry, I forgot to ask on palm oil plantation EBITDA for the quarter and for the full year?

So, Dhiraj, we did as we had oil palm plantation EBITDA was INR357 crores. Let me give you the exact number. So, our revenue was INR1,793 crores, and our EBITDA was INR357 crores versus INR1,262 crores in the previous year and INR203 crores of EBITDA. So, it was a very healthy spike that we got in the margins on the oil palm plantation. So, the two pointers are driving. One is the volume growth in the business as the plantation that we done earlier start to mature, and this momentum will pick up. And second, of course, was an uptick in the prices of the palm oil prices that went up. So that straightaway translates into the superior margin construct for us in the plantation business.

Got it. Okay. Thank you very much, sir.

Thank you.

As there are no further questions from the participants. I would like to hand the conference over to the management for closing comments.

So, thank you very much. And with this, I conclude the call. I sincerely thank you all for the continued support and trust in Patanjali Foods. If you have any further queries, you could speak to our Advis ors, SGA, and we will be in touch with more comments and more feedback . We look forward to receiving from you all. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Thank you very much to all.

Thank you. On behalf of Patanjali Foods Limited, that concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us, and you may now disconnect your lines. Thank you