FMCG costs ease; consumers await price reductions.

Thimmiah Napanda, Managing Director & CEO, Alternicq, said the company and its customers focused on securing supplies amid uncertainty in raw material availability, leading to inventory build-up at elevated prices. As crude prices ease, the benefits are expected to flow gradually through the packaging value chain. Existing inventories will delay immediate cost relief, and companies are likely to prioritise rebuilding margins before passing on benefits to consumers. Nevertheless, improved geopolitical stability and softer crude prices are expected to support a healthier demand environment for the packaging industry.

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