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Agri Inputs & Chemicals - Q2FY13 preview - Emkay



Posted On : 2012-10-12 23:41:22( TIMEZONE : IST )

Agri Inputs & Chemicals - Q2FY13 preview - Emkay

On an aggregate basis, we expect our universe to report topline growth of 11%yoy. However, due to continuing margin pressures we expect EBITDA to decline by 3% yoy. APAT for is expected to decline by 8% yoy.

- Fert revenues for our universe are expected to increase by 7% yoy driven by increase in trading volumes for GSFC & Chambal Fertilisers. GNFC's fertiliser revenues are also expected to increase by 30% yoy driven by higher urea volumes.

- However, we expect Coromandel's volumes to decline by 28% yoy due to high complex fertiliser prices. Aggregate fertiliser margins for our universe are expected to decline by 280bps yoy to 9.7% due to high input costs.

- Emkay Chemicals Index increased by 8% yoy during July/Aug'12 due to increase in prices for key chemicals however rupee depreciation has impacted costs.

- We expect chemicals revenues for our universe to increase by 21% yoy however EBIT is expected to decline by 6% yoy due to decline in margins.

- Steep increase in ammonia & propylene costs have impacted Deepak's chemicals margins (down by 210bps yoy to 20.0%) while GSFC's margins are expected to decline (1300bps yoy) due to decline in spreads. GNFC's margins are expected to remain weak due to pressure on realizations.

- Agri-inputs consumption has remained under pressure over the last couple of quarters due to farmers' strained cash flow position. This was further exacerbated by deficient monsoons during July/Aug '12 which impacted sowing patterns. However, with the improvement in monsoons we expect agriinputs consumption to have improved.

- Initial apprehensions regarding the impact of deficient monsoons on rabi have subsided after pickup in monsoons during Sep'12. Current year's storage is nearly 87 % of last year's storage and 106 % of the average of last ten years.

- We remain cautiously optimistic on the outlook for agri-input companies. Improved rabi outlook, favorable base effect & the pick up in monsoons are likely to result in better performance from H2FY13. Tata Chemicals & Deepak Fertiliser remain our top picks due to attractive valuations.

Source : Equity Bulls

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