Sector Update | 17 March 2017
Logistic
Gateway rail volume trend
Gateway Rail (M TEU)
116
81
YoY (%)
69
17
37 29
-9
17
-18
8 8 16
Revival in rail container volumes likely
Pricing environment improving
Concor EXIM volume trend
Concor EXIM - Volumes (M TEU)
Y-o-Y Change (%)
7.2 5.8
1.5
-6.2
-5.6
0.8
9.711.0
10.0
6.6 8.0
We expect a pick-up in container rail volumes over next 12-18 months, led by: 1) a
revival in EXIM trade and 2) the rail sector becoming more competitive and thus taking
market share from road sector.
Pricing in the rail sector has likely bottomed out, given easing competitive intensity.
Against this backdrop, Container Corp (Concor) has initiated price hikes on the key
routes of Kathuwas and Ludhiana with effect from 1 March 2017.
Margins of the rail logistics players are likely to improve due to better volume
aggregation and cost-efficient measures adopted by players like Concor and Gateway
Rail Freight Limited (GRFL).
We prefer Gateway Distriparks (GDPL) over (Concor) due to the former’s better RoCE
profile, led by efficient capital allocation and a superior revenue mix.
Rail container volume revival on the cards
Container rail volumes in tonnage terms have been sluggish for past 24 months,
as the haulage hike taken toward end-FY15 led to market share loss for
container train operators (CTOs). Weak EXIM trade (particularly exports) further
impacted rail volumes for CTOs. We, however, expect a revival in container rail
volumes over next 12-18 months, led by 1) a recovery in EXIM trade growth (a
low base and a pick-up in exports) and 2) market share gains by the rail sector
due to its improved competitiveness (no haulage hike over past 24 months and
the subsequent increase in diesel prices).
Pricing environment improving led by reduced competitive intensity
EBITDA/TEU trend for Concor and
GRFL
CCRI
GDL
Pricing was under pressure over last 12 months as the commencement of new
terminals at Kathuwas and Ludhiana led to intensified competition among CTOs.
However, we do not anticipate the major terminals to add capacity in the north
region over next 12-18 months. Against the backdrop of easing competitive
intensity, Concor initiated a price increase in the Kathuwas and Ludhiana sectors
from 1 March 2017.
Margins bottoming out
Margins have been under pressure over past 24 months due to the subdued
pricing environment, as well as higher empty running charges led by trade
imbalance. With pricing improvement in the rail logistics space, GDPL
commencing the Virmagam terminal and higher double-stacking for Concor, we
expect margins for both Concor and GRFL to recover from the current levels.
Abhishek Ghosh
(Abhishek.Ghosh@MotilalOswal.com); +91 22 3982 5436
Abhinil Dahiwale
(Abhinil.Dahiwale@MotilalOswal.com); +91 22 3980 4309
Investors are advised to refer through important disclosures made at the last page of the Research Report.
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8 August 2016
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