Companies in India find pricing power as growth on road to recovery after cash ban, GST

Mumbai ;From Mercedes-Benz AG to Unilever, companies in India are finding power to pass on higher costs to consumers, a sign that demand in the world’s fastest-growing major economy is well-entrenched.
After the twin shocks of a cash ban in 2016 and the chaotic introduction of a consumption tax last year, India’s economic recovery is gaining momentum. Businesses are taking advantage of the solid demand to raise prices, lifting profits, but also fanning inflation at a time of higher oil prices and a currency slump.
More than 1,200 manufacturing firms — both small and large — polled by the Reserve Bank of India reported input price pressures and an increase in selling prices. The central bank raised interest rate twice since June to the highest in two years to curb price pressures and support the rupee amid a sell-off in emerging market currencies.
The stronger growth outlook has underpinned a 13 percent gain this year in India’s benchmark S&P BSE Sensex Index to a record high, making it Asia’s best-performer. “There is a sense that the economy has come out of the difficult phase,” Harsh Pant, a professor of international relations at King’s College in London, said, referring to the pick up in manufacturing activity as consumer confidence improves. The decision of companies to raise prices “seem to be reflecting this underlying reality,” he said.
With double-digit growth in monthly vehicle sales for most of the year so far, companies including Suzuki Motor Corp.’s India unit, Ashok Leyland Ltd. and Mercedes-Benz are raising prices. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. increased prices last week by up to 6,100 rupees a unit ($88) across models citing higher commodity prices, distribution costs and adverse foreign exchange rates. Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. also plans to hike prices by up to 2 percent from August.
A surge in global steel prices has given Indian steelmakers, including JSW Steel Ltd., Tata Steel Ltd., and Steel Authority of India Ltd. the ability to raise product prices by 8 percent to 10 percent this year. China’s curbs on steel output, global trade protection measures and robust domestic demand will keep prices firm going forward. Steel futures in Shanghai were at the highest in seven years on Tuesday.
Fast-moving consumer goods, which is ranked as the fourth-largest sector in the economy by think-tank India Brand Equity Foundation, is a bright spot in terms of demand. That’s given companies such as Hindustan Unilever Ltd., the local unit of Unilever, room to raise prices in some goods.
Godrej Consumer Products Ltd., a homegrown FMCG company, has already increased prices of some products and plans more in hair colors, toiletries and air fresheners with the impact likely to be reflected from this quarter. Dabur India Ltd. has hinted at a 3 percent to 4 percent price increase in product prices to mitigate inflationary pressure.