Huhtamaki shares climb as CEO declares India trouble is over
1 min read 11 Oct 2017, 02:07 PM ISTFinnish food packaging maker Huhtamaki Oyj CEO Jukka Moisio says the negative impact of GST is over and the demand has increased now in India
PremiumHelsinki: Finnish food packaging maker Huhtamaki Oyj shares continued to climb after the company said demand in its biggest Asian market is recovering.
Huhtamaki stock has added 4.6% over two days, rising to as high as €37.29 at 10:22am in Helsinki, after chief executive officer (CEO) Jukka Moisio said the negative impact of a tax reform in India, which hit second-quarter sales, is easing.
It’s been “easier to smile" since September, Moisio said in an interview at the company’s headquarters in Espoo, Finland.
Third-quarter earnings on 26 October will still reflect woes caused by the new law that required, among other things, reprinting of price tags on all packages. As clients emptied their stocks and stopped ordering, sales dried up — but now restocking is bringing a boost.
“It’s looking strong" in India, Moisio said. “There’s been more demand than we can deliver."
Investors have paid heed and the stock has rebounded from a July low.
India is a focus for the company, with sales there nearly doubling to €281.9 million ($333 million) at the end of last year since 2014, and among the fastest growth rates projected, compared with the more mature US and European markets.
“Wherever are the biggest populations, there are the biggest opportunities — and our investments follows that," Moisio said. “India will be one of the largest markets as the population grows and food-to-go and packaging markets develop." Bloomberg
