FMCG industry grows record 9.4%

New Delhi, May 12: The Indian FMCG industry has recorded a 9.4 per cent growth in the JanuaryMarch quarter of 2021, helped by a consumptionled growth and value growth by increased prices of products, especially of staples, said data analytics firm Nielsen.

The rural market continued to perform with strong growth of 14.6 per cent during the period and the metro markets have registered a positive growth after two quarters.

Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry sales growth from the traditional trade channels jumped to double digits, while growth in e-commerce normalised down to single digits in the January-March quarter.

“FMCG industry in India has built growth momentum by growing at

9.4 per cent in the quarter ending March 2021 after growing at 7.3 per cent in the previous quarter (October-December 2020), over the same quarter of the previous year," said FMCG Snapshot for Q1

2021 released by NielsenIQ’s Retail Intelligence team.

NielsenIQ South Asia

Lead Diptanshu Ray said: "This is backed up by staples, essential non-foods and indulgence categories.” He cautioned that the beginning of the second quarter may bring some new dimensions, as the situation is dynamic.

"Now that lockdowns have resurfaced, and with last-mile delivery boost up, the e-commerce channel will continue to be dynamic,” it said.

According to the report, metros have registered a growth of 2.2 per cent in the January-March quarter after two-quarters of decline.