Despite price hike, Maruti Suzuki's margin may be hit in April quarter

Company can afford to pass on cost of increasing cost of metal prices, but investors will now put it under watch of analysts

Maruti Suzuki increased prices of its products for the second time in three months to pass on the increased input costs. Though the quantum of the latest hike is not known, the country’s largest passenger vehicle maker had taken a Rs 6,000-Rs 34,000 hike (about 3 per cent) across models in January.

Analysts at JM Financial in a recent report point out that metal prices have increased by over 30 per cent in the past six months. The input cost of metals accounts for as much as 20 per cent of net sales; a 1 per cent change in steel prices