Refrigerator import ban, volume recovery can help Whirlpool stay cool

Given raw material pressure, margin trend is another factor

Consumer durables major Whirlpool of India could be a key beneficiary of a move by the central government to restrict the import of refrigerators. While most refrigerators are made in the country, about 10 per cent of the overall volumes catering to the premium segment are still imported.

Analysts, led by Aniruddha Joshi, of ICICI Securities believe that Whirlpool will be the net beneficiary since it has domestic manufacturing units in India. Impact on the supply chain of competitors in premium refrigerators will provide an opportunity to Whirlpool to introduce its own products and gain market share, they add.  

While