Avanti Feeds Ltd Q1 FY23 Earnings Conference Call Insights

Key highlights from Avanti Feeds Ltd (AVANTIFEED) Q1 FY23 Earnings Concall

Management Update:

• AVANTIFEED said that as the demand for shrimp feed is expected to increase, the company has completed setting up of the new manufacturing facility in Bandapuram, with annual installed capacity of 1,75,000 metric tons with a capex of INR125 crores.

Q&A Highlights:

• Trilok Agarwal of Dymon Asia asked about the reason for weak growth in the shrimp feed business in 1Q23. Ramachandra Rao Joint MD replied that the expectation was very high in 1Q23. It started well, however, from May the prices of big shrimp did not go up as expected. In 2Q23 and 3Q23, it’s expected to have better production vs. previous year.

• Nitin Awasthi with InCred asked if the inventory the company had at FY22 end has been exhausted in 1Q23. Ramachandra Rao Joint MD replied that it was exhausted.

• Nitin Awasthi from InCred also asked about the fish meal prices booked per kg in 1Q23 and soyameal prices. Ramachandra Rao Joint MD answered that in 1Q23, the avg. fish meal price was INR111, wheat flour was INR26, and soya price was INR66.

• Nitin Awasthi with InCred enquired about the threat of India importing raw shrimp from Ecuador last month. Alluri Nikhilesh ED replied that in the long term the company doesn’t feel it’s a risk. There is also no trend to import product from Ecuador. Perhaps it was product that was rejected from China that was imported.

• Deepesh Kashyap of Equirus asked if the guidance of seed sales of 5.7 lakh tons is for FY23 or CY23. Ramachandra Rao Joint MD clarified that it’s for calendar year and not for FY23.

• Deepesh Kashyap of Equirus asked about the demand environment. Alluri Nikhilesh ED answered that the overall demand is a little on the weaker side. However, the company needs to see how the Christmas and New Year sales go, but the price is okay and a drop is not expected further. Avanti added that demand for some size of shrimp are good.

• Ankur Arora from HSBC enquired about the market share in the feed business being stagnant at 50% for a while and its outlook. Ramachandra Rao Joint MD said that the target is always to go up to 60% each year.  However in FY23, the company expects to cross the 50% market share mark.