India's JK Tyre plans additional 5%-6% price hikes by September-end (updated)
UPDATE 1-India's JK Tyre plans additional 5%-6% price hikes by September-end Updates CFO comment in paragraph 3
By Saikeerthi .
July 9 (Reuters) - Indian tyre maker JK Tyre & Industries JKIN.NS expects to raise product prices by a total of 11% to 13% by the end of September to offset rising input costs, its finance chief said, joining rivals in passing on higher expenses to customers.
The hikes reflect pressure across the auto-parts sector after an oil price rally linked to the Middle East conflict drove up the cost of petroleum-based inputs, energy and freight.
The tyre maker, which said in May it expects to raise prices by 5% to 6%, has since rolled out hikes every month in the first quarter and plans to increase prices by a further 5% to 6% in the coming two to three months, CFO Sanjeev Aggarwal told Reuters on Wednesday.
"Prices (of raw materials) have gone through the roof and for us, it went up by almost over 20%. So, that has impacted business in this quarter," Aggarwal said, citing West Asia tensions, transport disruption and supply-chain constraints.
Raw materials such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, carbon black and steel make up about two-thirds of expenses for the company, which counts leading car makers Maruti Suzuki India MRTI.NS and Tata Motors TATM.NS among its customers.
The move brings it in line with rivals Apollo Tyres APLO.NS and CEAT CEAT.NS, which have also raised prices. Top Indian car makers have passed on the costs to customers.
Industry data released earlier this month showed vehicle sales rose 21.8% in June, signaling strong demand across passenger and commercial vehicles and giving tyre makers more room to raise prices.
(Reporting by Saikeerthi in Bengaluru; Editing by Chandini Monnappa, Subhranshu Sahu and Jonathan Ananda)
((Saikeerthi@thomsonreuters.com; (+91) 8296756080))
Recent news on Tata Motors
See all newsBrief: Iveco Group Announces The Results Of The Extraordinary General Meeting
EU Commission clears Leonardo acquisition of Iveco's defence unit
India's Tata Technologies posts slightly higher second-quarter profit; expects double-digit FY growth
Brief: Stellantis CEO: feel strong support from large shareholders
Iveco, Tata Motors raises offer price to €14.40 per share