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Earnings Call Analysis
Q1-2025 Analysis
Galaxy Surfactants Ltd
In the first quarter of FY 24-25, Galaxy Surfactants Limited faced a challenging environment with rising supply chain costs and geopolitical tensions. Despite these challenges, the company achieved an EBITDA of INR 20,197 per metric tonne, which fell short of the guided range of INR 20,500 to INR 21,500 due to increased supply chain costs. Nevertheless, the management remains optimistic about regaining profitability and expects volume momentum to continue across all geographies.
The company reported an overall volume growth of 8% this quarter, albeit slower than prior years. India experienced a modest growth of 2%, attributable to a slow April followed by a rebound in May and June. The rural consumption, boosted by above-average monsoons and the government’s budget favoring rural spending, is expected to maintain this momentum. In the AMET region (Africa, Middle East, and Turkey), volume growth was recorded at 4.9%, showing signs of recovery despite global pressures, whereas the rest of the world markets achieved a remarkable growth of 24.5%.
The company is cautiously optimistic about achieving high single-digit growth in the AMET region, fueled by increasing consumer demand in masstige categories spread across developed markets. The significant growth in the rest of the world markets, primarily in Europe and Latin America, is expected to translate into double-digit growth as demand recovers and new products are launched. The management highlights that improving consumer sentiment is a key indicator for growth moving forward.
Despite visible demand improvement, the company faced ongoing supply chain constraints, including shipping delays and the unavailability of raw materials. These factors led to a lower volume than anticipated and hindered growth potential during the quarter. However, the management is optimistic that these challenges will not intensify and hopes to see stable performance in the coming quarters.
For FY 24-25, Galaxy Surfactants maintained its volume growth guidance at 6% to 8%. While previous quarters showed robust growth, caution is emphasized due to unpredictable macroeconomic conditions. The management expects improvements in specialty ingredients during the second half of FY 24-25, which could boost EBITDA performance. The company aims to increase its market share and introduce new products that align with evolving consumer trends.
The growth of specialty products, driven by premium and masstige categories, remains a core focus for the company. Management reports early victories in new product launches and anticipates stronger earnings through this segment in the upcoming quarters. They highlight that renewed interest from customers in launching premium products that were suspended due to economic volatility is a positive sign for the specialty segment's growth.
In conclusion, Galaxy Surfactants is navigating a complex landscape marked by operational challenges and macroeconomic uncertainties. However, consistent volume growth across geographies, targeted expansion into premium products, and a resilient approach to managing supply chain issues position the company favorably for future performance. Investors may look forward to potential positive trends in demand and specialty product contributions as market conditions improve.
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Ladies and gentlemen, good day, and welcome to Galaxy Surfactants Limited Q1 FY '25 Earnings Conference Call.
This conference call may contain forward-looking statements about the company, which are based on the beliefs, opinions and expectation of the company as on date of this call. These statements are not the guarantees of future performance and risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict.
[Operator Instructions] Please note that this conference is being recorded. I now hand the conference over to Mr. K. Natarajan, Managing Director from Galaxy Surfactants Limited. Thank you, and over to you, sir.
Thank you. Very good morning, ladies and gentlemen. On this call with me is Mr. Vaijanath Kulkarni, my Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director; and Mr. Abhijit Damle, our Group Chief Financial Officer.
So once again, very good morning, it gives me much pleasure to welcome you all to our first investor conference call for FY '24, '25. As I look back at the quarter gone by, the comparative that comes to my mind is that of the head of the top line story. the story, we have all grown up hearing but perfectly descriptive of the scenario today. At one end, we had a volatile supply chain and geopolitical escalations which we had in the space has been changing rapidly. And in the other hand, we have the demand scenario, which like the topic, has been slowly, but certainly improving across geographies.
In a world destabilized by volatile macros, logistical challenges and elongated lead times, attaining the upper range of the guided volume growth was a major positive in this quarter. I strongly believe the volume momentum to sustain going ahead, driven by growth across all geographies, while volume growth was in line with our expectations, the EBITDA for [indiscernible] came in at INR 20,197 per metric tonne, slightly below the guided band of INR 20,500 to INR 21,500 per metric tonne.
Higher supply chain costs across all locations contributed towards this being lower than the guided range of INR 20,000 per metric tonne. Despite multiple challenges, I believe we are on track to regain our profitability trajectory. There are visible signs of improving demand for our payment facilities, which should enable an improvement in our overall profitability. Volume growth across all regions and segments was a major positive in this quarter.
James Clear in his book, Atomic Habit, has said, we often dismiss small changes because they don't seem to matter very much in the moment. Drawing inspiration from the same, I now will take you through the small but important improvements that have happened in this quarter, as this will play an important role as far as this year's performance will be concerned.
Starting with India, which grew by 2% in this quarter. While this happen to be relatively slower compared to double-digit growth we have seen in the last 4 years, this comes on the back of relatively slower April that we had before for an extremely strong May and June. Above average monsoons, deliver of rural spending, along with the consumption incentivizing budget should ensure strong momentum going ahead.
Despite the geopolitical escalation and aggressive prices, Africa and Middle East and Turkey grew by 4.9% in this quarter. This is a major positive, small but steady improvements in quarter-on-quarter despite deteriorating macros gives us the confidence that the path to revival which began in H2 of FY 2024 is now moving towards the path of growth.
We remain cautiously optimistic and are working towards delivering on a high single-digit growth this year in lower Africa and Middle East and Turkey markets. As the rate cap cycle gathers momentum, improving all our spending has slowly translated into strong demand for masstige categories. This is a phenomenon visible across all developed markets.
This quarter saw our company growing by 24.5% in rest of the world markets driven by strong growth seen in Europe and Latin America. We strongly believe the momentum in masstige categories should translate to strong double-digit growth for these markets. Improving consumer sentiment should accelerate new launches of premium specialty products, which in turn, should aid our premium specialties from FY '24, '25.
As one can see, your company has grown across all regions in this quarter. Even segmentally while our performance of surfactants grew at 5.4%, specialties driven by masstige recorded 13.3% growth. While overall volume growth stood at 8%, sequentially as well as year-on-year, we saw growth in our EBITDA. While demand remains steady across geographies, capitalizing the on same, given the supply volatility was a major challenge.
Unavailability of containers, port condition and some of the major ports in the world, combined with higher lead times and [indiscernible] availability of raw materials did adversely impact the volumes in this quarter. A more supportive environment would have resulted in strong double-digit volume growth for the company.
To conclude, as Greek philosopher Epictetus had said, just keep in mind that more we value things out of our control, the less control we have. In line with that, at Galaxy, we remain focused on what we can control, at least in terms of new launches, leveraging and enhancing our share with customers, adding new customers or building capabilities, competence and competitiveness across businesses. Our endeavor remains to focus on -- sorry, on improving ourselves as an organization. As instability, volatility and crisis gathers, we at Galaxy remains fully committed and focused towards ensuring stable, consistent and improving performances.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
[Operator Instructions] The first question is from the line of Aditya Khetan from SMIFS Institutional Equities.
First question is on to the improvement in your per-kilo EBITDA spreads for this quarter. Sir, despite the logistic challenges and the continued Red Sea prices, you had also mentioned in your presentation that raw material arrivals are impacted and despite of finished goods. And higher freight rates also would have been there. But despite this number, our other expenses has gone down on a sequential basis. Any particular reasons?
No, so the other expenses typically it is more from the freight because freight is part of the revenue in terms of based on the [ inco ] terms that we have. So typically, there are some -- the BDP shipments were lower within this quarter, then the revenue, the BDP costs are much higher than trade costs. So that can be the only explanation for that, nothing else.
Okay. And sir, there was availability of containers, like have you faced this problem? Or like -- so we were having very smooth operations for this quarter into the exports market?
No, no, no. I wasn't smooth at all. That's what I said during my opening address that the challenges actually aggravated pretty significantly from May onwards. It was both incoming and outgoing. So there will -- you're target times are very elongated, conditions across all the major ports. And even availability of containers and slots -- forget about the rate increases, even availability has become a challenge.
But yes, my team has been doing a fantastic job in terms of managing in this new normal. And we do hope that if the situation doesn't escalate, my team has found a way to manage despite all these constraints.
Okay. Sir, this has started from May, as you mentioned. So like for the coming quarters, can we see some softening of volumes? Or it will be against low economy?
So what I'm saying is that the demand scenario looks robust across geographies. The supply situation, though not improving, at least should not deteriorate. If it doesn't deteriorate today, we don't see any reason why we can't have a good volume growth next quarter as well.
Okay. Perfect. Sir, on to the volume performance. As mentioned in your presentation that the rest of the world markets have seen a good improvement. Any particular geography which we can mention like which has seen a sharp uptick in demand or in volume?
Yes. We have Europe. We have Latin America. We also have Asia-Pacific.
Okay. Okay. And sir, this will continue going ahead? And along with this, you expect the AMET market also to like perform? Or it will remain flattish like in terms of volume growth, probably?
So the rest of the world is growing by 24.5%. Also, we need to understand is based on lower base that was there in the corresponding quarter last year because the destocking impact started happening only from that quarter. So that is one. But yes, given that we still have a good robust demand emerging from these geographies, we will continue the growth momentum.
With regard to the Africa and Middle East Turkey market, again, we see no reason why our demand growth that we had this quarter cannot be continued. The only spoiler can be is the supply situation worsens beyond what it is today.
Okay. Okay. This quarter gone to EBITDA per kilo, like there is a very good improvement, standing at around [ INR 19, INR 19.5 ]. So sir, like we had guided for INR 20,500 to INR 21,500 as the guidance. So are we on track to beat that guidance also considering these Q1 numbers and if there is significant improvement from here on?
So what we had said when we guided to the higher end when we increased the range of guidance to -- from INR 20,500 to INR 21,500 band, we have said very clearly what is going to make us fit this higher band, is we expect the specialty ingredients to start catching up from the H2 of this year. So we continue to remain consistent on that. And we do hope that once that happens, we should see the EBITDA per metric tonne also trending towards the higher end of the guide.
The next question is from the line of Sanjesh Jain from ICICI Securities.
First, on the India market, it's -- because the other FMCG companies have also reported the slower volume growth, but how has been the trend post June? Is it holding up the faster growth of May and June, even in the July and beyond quarter?
Yes. So far, we are seeing that holding up.
They're holding up. Okay. Okay. And from next quarter onwards, this should at least again cross that mid-single-digit kind of volume growth, right?
It should. But as all of them, all our customers come in to see -- they're seeing that the rural demand is coming up in that quarter, and they expect that to continue given the good monsoon that we have had and the budget that has put more money in the hands of the rural consumers.
So with all these in place and the price corrections that have happened, surely this was -- rural demand is close to register good growth. So we do hope that really transpires into a good demand for us as well.
Got it. Got it. And on AMET, somehow it feels that I thought we can grow by double digit because this was very favorable, and we are still at the mid-single digit of 5%. What is happening in AMET? Is recovery slower or competition more aggressive? What's happening on the AMET market?
AMET, actually, we could have done much better. But as I said, there are refi issues in terms of getting incoming consignments. Because of the refi issue, the incoming raw materials were severely impacted. In fact, we have containers coming almost 30, 40 days after the schedule date of our arrival. [indiscernible] also was impacted.
I think there was no dirt of demand to cater to. The issue was in terms of availability of feedstock to continue production. This is better now, which is getting better in terms of the way we are managing it. So if the situation doesn't deteriorate further, I think we should see some good numbers moving forward.
So for remaining 3 quarters, if assuming supply chain issue normalizes, we should be hitting double-digit growth at least, right, in the AMET market.
Yes, that is what we already said. We do hope that the environment supports us. That's what is our endeavor.
Got it. And you mentioned about premium product launches in the H2. Are you hinting at product taking into more geographies or are you hinting at new product launches itself?
I didn't say new launches. What had happened, Sanjesh, was only about last 12, 15 months, because of the cutback in demand that happened in the U.S. and Europe, the destocking and all that led to many of our customers where we have [indiscernible] projects in pipeline for our new products, they have actually suspended work on this because they were finding that the demand itself has gone to -- so that has started, that has recommenced in terms of the work on that.
So you are telling that the premium product, which customers were launching, which were not launched because of the weaker market are getting launched now?
Correct. Correct. So we have got some indication to customers that they have revised those. If that is the case, it also mean that it's answered into date taking those premium specialty from us, which will then help us in terms of a better EBITDA per metric tonne in H2. That's what we said.
Natarajan, can you give a little bit more color on the specialty? What is driving more growth for us? It is preservative cities, mile surfactant or it is value-added products? What actually is driving growth in the specialty for us?
Actually, it's a combination. It's not just one of it. So we have preservatives. We have micro factants. We have our nonprofit preservatives, okay? And also some of the new products that we launched, we are seeing some early victories. That also has started. So it's -- so that is rounded and are well spread out, this thing in terms of specialties. But we would want the premium subsidies to now contribute more. And that obviously depends on our customers' repricing, the launches that they have held back.
When you say premium product, what are these products are we referring to?
No, you're talking about say, high-end cleansing solutions. We're looking at high-end cleansing bars, you're looking at, say, solid format shampoo bars. We're looking at high-end skin moisturizing creams, which require better emollients and high-end emollients. We're looking at certain formulations that require safe preservatives, natural ingredients or ingredients with more naturalized index and [indiscernible].
And how has been proteins doing for us? I think we expanded the capacity in Tri-K as well. How has been the performance of proteins for us?
So it has been good. So this quarter was a revival quarter as far as that business is concern because-ed that suffered significantly last year in terms of the destocking that happened in the U.S. and the way Europe demand was very tepid. That has started getting revised. So I think that's good. So that also was one of the highlights of first quarter in North America business.
The next question is from the line of Arun Prasath from Avendus Spark.
My first question is once again on the specialty growth of mid-20. So how much of this growth we can attribute to, say, restocking and how much is -- do we say because of the customers' new product trucks? Because last time, we had these container issues, customers were overordering more than the required. So there will be a little bit portion of the growth attributable to that as well?
I don't -- unfortunately, I don't have the split that you're asking for, but the right question. But in order to get here, probably I think about 40% of this can be attributed to the stocking of -- the restocking, as I can call it. The balance is in terms of certain geographies where we also got some newer businesses. I would put it that way.
So that means maybe this very high double digit growth can also be attributable to the low base which should slightly normalize from the second half, that's the way to think about this?
Yes. But the way to think what is currently happening will continue. But then if you have certain products that are in the pipeline, which the customers are now looking at reevaluating and relaunching with their customers last year, it can be a different story.
But if it is without that, it just continues. Definitely -- also means that if the demand picks up, the company will also start restocking because many of the inventories at my customers and also at the retailer end also been hit very significantly. And the people are now with the demand being robust, they will start looking at restocking and increasing inventory levels to the normal as it should be right now. Many of the unity levels are pretty tight across the value chain, okay?
And so I think that also can be perceived, that restocking also should happen. But this can also be one of the other positives in terms of the demand.
Sir, last time we spoke, you indicated the specialty volumes, if we reach around [indiscernible] then you will kick start the CapEx program. Now looking at the current growth trajectory, we should be very close to that level. So the CapEx on the specialty side, is it in the time line?
So there is one which is already under implementation and execution. I think we're looking at getting it commissioned by end of this financial year. And there is something more that is on the drawing board which we are working on. Because we always need to be in capacity and ahead of the demand coming in. So that, we are well preparing, because we can't afford to lose any demand because we don't have the capacity. So that we are very much on track.
Just a bit more color on this capacity. So it will be more on the non-toxic preservatives or mild surfactants, where do you see very high incremental growth has come back to the capacities currently we have?
No, it will actually be in -- it can be effective, which one it will be. Because many of the high-end formulations will require both mild surfactants and non-toxic preservatives. And I -- earlier, high-end emollients, okay, and emulsifiers. So this is something that will be across. So we may not be able to very clearly demarcate to say as to which will be the sort of capacity that will get set up. Because some of them will be remodeling, some of them will be brownfield investments that we'll be doing.
Understood. Sir, my second question is on India. Last 2 quarters, the growth has slowed down. But we have given a commentary that it is upon the rural and demand recovery. So anything else which can help us deliver the part from rural? Do you see any potential from the [ other ] side also. Any indication from the customer that this can rebound back even if the growth doesn't come on?
Yes. See, what has happened, Arun, is that all the FMCG companies have started taking price cuts, various prices only over the last -- probably most of it happened in the last quarter, very significantly. So now that should start sanctioning demand because good demand from both rural and urban, okay?
And all of them have started reporting -- if you see all of my customers have started reporting after a long time, the volume-led growth and not a value-add growth. In fact, value growth is negative. The entire growth is coming through volume, which essentially indicates that these price corrections have been yielding results in terms of volume growth. And we do expect that we start translating into volume growth for us also in line with that.
In India, again, if you see, it's only because many of them, when they took price correction, they also want to ensure that the inventory is just at minimum, correct? Because they don't want to be hiring -- the [indiscernible] existing together. So that also starts resulting in sudden cutback in terms of their production. And now once the demand is intact, you'll have restocking happening, they build up the inventory pipeline again, and that will be good.
So indeed, you see the real barometer is effective demand that starts from August. August, September, October, demand will determine as to whether the demand growth has come back on track. So we'll wait for that. The current indications tell me that my customers are optimistic that it will sustain.
One clarification, you said the price that's happening on the ground. Is it a direct price cut? Or is it -- why are there [ grammage ] increase, sir?
No, there are multiple. There are a combination of this. Price cut also has been set, there are one -- if you buy a [indiscernible] 2, 1 in 3, you also have [ grammage ] increase. So it is a combination of all this. You have some customers in big some customers and some products, they end up doing [ grammage ] increase, some products, they're giving [ 1423 ]. And some, they are looking at taking clear price cuts. So it's a combination that is happening.
Okay. So this [ grammage ] which has happened recently, that is where your focused or you're hopeful that India volume growth will have a bounce back? And along with the increasing demand, is that the right understanding?
So can you repeat the question? I think I lost you in between.
Sir, this [ grammage ], which was second recently, that is where we are hopeful that the India volume growth can come back? Is that right understanding?
Essentially, [indiscernible] increase before we actually take a price cut. The [ grammage ] increase is [indiscernible] whether there is -- the demand is really competitive way to test out. So when they do 2 for 1 free, it tells them because if you do a direct price cut, then you can again take the price up.
So these are the ways for them to test off. So that's what they're doing. Once they realize that it is complex, they will then get back to actual price cuts. So they will follow up those [ grammage ] increase to a price reduction and [indiscernible] the [ grammage ] earlier. So that's typically what we do every time. They do the same thing when they do increased price, they don't increase the price of the first year. They increase -- they reduce the grammage, okay, when they look for what -- and then they slowly start reducing price. So the same thing they do it when they have to unwind these price increase cycles.
So in this cycle, where we are at this point of time, so we have already seen [ grammage ] cut and the demand is taking -- so I just wanted to understand, we are in which part of the cycle in this?
So right now, based on the commentary that my customers are giving including this morning, I read something of [indiscernible], it tells me that rural demand is really picking up, it is good. And all our customers are getting into rural, where even there are 1,000 consumers using AI and all that to tell their sales team, they always expect to target, okay consumers who bought products there in rural area which is good.
But right now, if you see all of them are saying very clearly that all that they're doing in terms of price action is resulting in green starts in terms of demand looking up, and they expect this to continue. So we are also seeing that this is continuing. The only thing is we need to see it going up to a higher level, which should happen in the testing season as it was...
[Operator Instructions] The next question is from the line of Rohit Nagraj from Centrum Broking.
Congrats on a good set of numbers. Sir, first question is the absorption of the incremental logistics costs. So given that it's been almost 6 months since the Red Sea issue started coming -- I mean, happened, whether those costs have now been completely passed on to the customers and whether the customers have completely absorbed this price increase. And here on, given the current environment remains the same, the pricing part from the logistic cost will not affect us. So just your thoughts on this one.
Yes, yes. So I think we have been -- obviously, it gets passed on with the lag. So I think with the increases, there are no further increases that happened. I think we would have been successful in passing on all the increase. But what happened last quarter was something also different where the incoming freights went up significantly.
And that results in raw material cost going up, which we have the cost of passing up. But I only -- as I said earlier, that in October, the shipping companies tell us that things would start stabilizing. So till that time, we would like to find ways to ensure that we are able to engage with the customers and ensure that we are able to judiciously pass on the increases.
Sure. That's helpful. And my second question is in terms of our future growth from new product development. So are there any pockets which are currently untapped by our median specialty care products and where we are currently working on and these probably will be giving us incremental growth.
Given that, I mean, historically also, we've been always specifying that 6% to 8% volume growth is largely what we expect when the FMCG grows slightly below that. So are there any such untapped areas which we are working on? And those will continue to give us volume growth to an extent? And obviously, the margin improvement, what we have suggested, 4%, 5% every single year, that will also be on track.
Yes. So untapped will be in terms of geographies that we need to be further penetrating also in terms of certain things that we need to increase our basket of ingredients with customers, which also we agree.
With regard to new products, okay, we know that there are several consumer trends which our innovation team is working on in terms of coming up with product solutions. So those will be something that we can say is untapped because we're still not ready with the product. But the good amount of product that we have launched, and we have initiated a lot of projects in pipeline with the customers, we should see it translating into demand as quarters go by.
So we are well positioned in all segments. So we need to be coming up with newer product ideas in line with the consumer trends and commercial as well. We also have to ensure that whatever we have launched, that we need to be ensuring that we are able to get better revenues and margins out of that, which is what we are working on.
And which is what got solved in terms of development by customers because of the unfavorable demand situation in the developed market, which is getting rewarded now, which offers well for us in terms of the way that S2 and onwards will look. And we also need to focus on how do we acquire more customers, we also penetrate geographies that we're currently under penetrated. So it's a combination of all this.
Sure. Just one clarification on this. In terms of the innovation funnel, normally, how much of that is driven from our side? And how much of that is coming from customer and in terms of certain applications or specific criteria?
So I think what we come up -- so it probably can be say, let's say, 50-50, 60-40, 50-50 in terms of what we come up with and sometimes what customers tell us. That's what they want. So it's a combination. So some of the innovation pipeline also involves some of the innovation that we do, which it's in line with the sustainability agenda. So that's also something -- is part of that. So you can say, just to be back of the level of calculation, I can tell you about 50% -- 50% to 60% can be what is initiated by us and the balance, 40%, 60% can be what the customers then prod us into thinking.
The next question is from the line of Krishan Parwani from JM Financial.
Just a couple of clarification. So does this quarter of volume includes the 2,500 metric tonne deferred volume from the last quarter?
Yes, it does. And some volumes from this quarter also have deferred next quarter in terms of whatever we could not sell because of supplier ratio. This continues. So this includes both.
Okay. And secondly, did favorable inventory kind of help you in making higher per-kg EBITDA?
No, not exactly. Not exactly. It was more in terms of my specialty ingredients contribution going out also helps, okay, plus also in terms of -- we managed our raw material as well where the raw material prices also were on a steady or an increasing side, but not very significant, okay?
But then, it was more in terms of how do you manage the freight situation, that was important. In terms of how do you manage your freight buying, how do you manage the engagement with customers, how do you ensure that we're able to get the material reach to the customers on time. So the companies have always enabled us to have a good -- a reasonably good EBITDA.
Noted. So I think, sir, you mentioned your specialty contribution going up. But in terms of -- I mean, specialty contribution, let's say, basis or calculation in terms of volume, it's almost like gone down by 4 percentage points. And in terms of revenue contribution, it's gone down by 3 percentage point sequentially. So I'm not sure what I'm missing.
Actually, the specialty care year-on-year has grown by about 13% okay? And you have performance of the fiber. So there was sequentially -- I'm not talking to you in terms of your year-on-year, okay? I'm not talking quarter-on-quarter. Quarter-on-quarter, there can always be the changes. But we are now talking about year-on-year. Year-on-year, specialty care grew by about 13%, right? And performance effectively grew by about 5.5%, delivering a leverage of over 8%.
Okay. Fair enough. And lastly, I think you mentioned that freight is also included in your pricing, basically on a CIF basis. So let's say, does that mean once the freight situation gets better from October, as you mentioned, our realization and per kg profitability could also come down? I mean we have seen that in -- happening from 3Q '23 to...
No, no, no, see, what happens is that -- the point here is we do FOB shipments, depending on what the customer wants, we do export shipments, we do CIF shipments, we do GDP shipments. Now what I said was -- I was asked why has your freight gone up to some -- why has your average gone up by some INR 18 crores. To this, I explained that it has nothing to do with whether it is an impact because we are not able to pass on the trade impact.
If our GDP shipments were higher in terms of percentage in this quarter as compared to the customer's last year, the GDP costs are much higher than [indiscernible] COVID, there is no freight included. But then once I book debt, I also took a customary expense also, correct? So I said that is our expense. It is not a question of a margin impact. So it is not a margin impact. Margin impact will be only -- we are unable to pass on all the costs, whether it be freight or GDP cost to our customers, which we have been able to do with a lag in the way that the freight rates have been going up. That's what I said.
The next question is from the line of Keyur Pandya from ICICI Prudential Life Insurance.
Sir, first question is just from the -- just to get clarity that we heard news about Unilever reducing the content of palm oil in their products now. Has that anything to do with any implication on our products? Or is it something else? Just -- I mean, the very basic question, but to get understanding on it.
Yes. So we actually -- first thing is we want -- our products don't have anything in traditional soaps, which are made from oil. So there is nothing -- no connection with what business lines that we are in. So we don't cater into soaps. What we do is -- Syndet soap is a specialty for us, which is simply detergent soap. So it has nothing to do with what Unilever announced in terms of reducing the farm content by 25%. So there is no connection with our business.
Okay. Understood. Second, on , I think, in past we have mentioned that, I mean AMET plans also caters to the Europe demand. And so AMET performance is impacted by what happens in Europe demand as well. So I mean, where are we in terms of, say, demand recurring Europe? And in that backdrop, how should we see the performance of the AMET which is impacted by both demand in AMET region as well as Europe region?
Yes, the demand in AMET region, I think demand in Europe, I have been looking at that. And then we do hope that this continues. But one of the challenges that [indiscernible] was that was in terms of availability of feedstocks to continue to have unlimited production to serve customers. So last quarter was a very, very severe quarter in terms of impact of incoming raw materials. But despite that, the team has delivered a 6% volume growth is commendable. But with things being where they are today and not further aggravated, I think our team is well positioned to be able to meet some enhancement that we are seeing both in AMET region and in Europe.
So there is good challenge in terms of end user demand in either of the regions? I mean incremental deterioration...
You said very good?
I mean there is no challenge at the end user geographies that is AMET or...
The demand mercifully seems to be looking up, which is good. But we only need the supply side to be supported. So I think things, if it doesn't worsen from here on, we would have found a way to be able to participate in the demand growth.
Okay. Just -- and last question. So I mean all this challenge in terms of freight rates or container availability is because of the longer route taken by the ships because of the Red Sea channel? Or is there anything else? I mean, any concrete reasons for this? And are you seeing any improvement on that side?
No, no, no. This is essentially the Red Sea crisis started in November when we had skipped going through the Red Sea. So we skipped Suez Canal there to go through the Cape of Good Hope. So we have ships taking more time to get to their destination. So containers also took more time to come back. And then you also have China trying to send a lot of material into the U.S., okay, in terms of components to keep the higher duty rates we had seen from October.
So there is a combination of factors that aggravated, which led to consistent exports, [indiscernible] containers, freight rates going up. Everything that -- all that could go [ defending ]. So now we are only saying this I think [indiscernible] which really was done from here on. So we don't want any geopolitical escalation that can further mess up with Red Sea situation.
The next question is from the line of Shalini Gupta from East India Securities.
I have to take 2, 3 questions. One is that what is your view on nodal alcohol prices. We have looked up a bit, but...
See non-alcohol prices have been -- it's been -- it is only increasing, in fact, increased by about 10% compared to the previous quarter in this quarter. But if you see the last one month, it has gone up significantly, aided by the increase in the oil price.
So it's like -- it's going to be another about 30% in just about 30 days. But then we are also seeing some corrections. So this is a content fees that keeps happening. That's why it's very critical where we need to have a very robust raw material management framework in place, which we have. So we're ensuring that we have the right buying down, the timing of the buying and the quantum of buying to take care of this price volatility.
Okay. So -- and you're expecting the price -- the high prices to sustain, this kind of 30% price increase in one month, you're seeing?
No, I don't want it to sustain, but that's what it is today. Any increase in feedstock price is going to also result in my customers having to pass that on to consumers and the demand that is now making come back based on the price reductions we have done should not get impacted because they have to then again increase the prices. So it is not good from a demand -- consumer demand perspective for the prices to sustain. I only said to the question that you asked, that we have started looking at it again. And we do hope that it comes back to and gets normalize at levels which was the previous quarter.
And sir, earlier, you had guided for about 8% volume growth in sort of financial year '25. That remains?
Yes, fixed rate percent. Yes, that remains. That remains.
And what kind of increase in realization are you looking at? 6% to 8% volume growth is clear, but increase in prices?
So prices, we're talking about EBITDA range we have given. We increased the guidance last quarter to INR 20,500 to 21,500 per metric tonne. So the industry builds on that as a volume growth plus increase in EBITDA means that we have more amount of specialties that should contribute, which we said should happen from H2, that over time, as we increased it. And we continue with the same guidance.
The next question is from the line of Aditya Khetan from SMIFS Institutional Limited.
Sir, this -- so this rise into the lauryl alcohol prices, is this also related to the higher cred cost globally, which is going up?
That is one, but then even oil prices have gone up significantly in the last 3 to 4 weeks. Palm prices have gone up, palm oil prices have gone up, soya prices have gone up. So entire oil complex is not up. And which essentially leads to an increase in your feedstock derivative prices plus the increased freight rate also contributes. That is an added one.
Okay. Okay. So sir, does this rise into the lauryl alcohol prices to trigger a revision in your fixed contract prices also like with the customers you had made?
Yes, it all depends on what sort of contracts we have. There are contracts where we have gotten the resets for prices. There are contracts where we do a contract for 6 months or 1 year, and then we need to ensure that we have the covers taken at those prices and we close the positions.
So there are various -- not all customers buy in a particular -- in the same way. So there are different models. Only thing is we need to ensure whichever model we have, we need to have a system by which we are able to manage the risk in terms of the open positions of the feedstock which we have a very good system, which is proven. Over the last 8 years, where we have managed this sort of volatility in a very elegant and effective manner, we proved it having significant impact on our profitability.
Okay. Sir, my second question, sir, I would like to give you 2 scenarios. Sir, first is in FY '24 when the global inflation was high, demand was lower and exports market was weak. So still, we had managed to give an 8% volume growth. Now sir, this year, we are talking of the rest of the world markets showing good volume growth. AMET market also posting around double-digit growth. Indian markets would still be -- would show a similar growth of last year. The demand is good.
So still, sir, like why are we guiding the similar range band of volume of 6% to 8%? When in negative time, it has clocked around 8%? In good times, it should be higher, at least considering 10% to 12%. I just want to know your logic for coming to that 6% to 8% volume band.
No, your logic is right, and my logic is also that. But unfortunately, the environment doesn't follow a particular logic. So we ought to also be cautious, because I don't want to be guiding higher and then you have external situation that's not supportive. So we need to wait for 2 more quarters before we can make a final comment on increasing the guidance.
Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, that was the last question for today's conference call. I would now like to hand the conference over to the management for their closing comments.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. It was a pleasure interacting with you and look forward to catching up again in 3 more months. Wish you a great day, and a very nice weekend. Thank you.
Thank you.
On behalf of Galaxy Surfactants Limited, that concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us, and you may now disconnect your lines. Thank you.