PATANJALI

March 13 (Reuters) - Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS:

• PATANJALI FOODS - PROHIBITION ORDER ON SALE OF PATANJALI ORGANIC WILD HONEY BATCH BY LADAKH ADMIN

• PATANJALI FOODS LTD - ORDER DUE TO PRESENCE OF NITROFURANS IN PATANJALI ORGANIC WILD HONEY

• PATANJALI FOODS LTD - NO MATERIAL IMPACT ON FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES EXCEPT 1.4 MILLION RUPEES

Source text: ID:nNSE3hRtdr

Further company coverage: PAFO.NS

(([email protected];;))

March 5 (Reuters) -

• LIC INCREASES STAKE IN PATANJALI FOODS TO 7.063% FROM 5.020% - EXCHANGE FILING

Source text: ID:nBSE9zBKcS

Further company coverage: LIFI.NS

(([email protected];;))

Adds detail on soft oils in paragraphs 5 and 6

By Rajendra Jadhav and Ashley Tang

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Palm oil's share of India's annual edible oil imports is set to drop below soft oils for the first time as its rising premium over soyoil and sunflower oil pushes refiners toward more affordable alternatives, the head of an industry body said.

Lower palm oil imports by India, the world's biggest buyer of vegetable oils, could weigh on benchmark Malaysian palm oil prices FCPOc3 and support U.S. soyoil futures Boc2.

"Palm oil is getting pricey due to supply issues, so buyers are naturally shifting to soyoil and sunflower oil instead," said Sanjeev Asthana, president of the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA), in an interview with Reuters.

The country's palm oil imports in the 2024/25 marketing year ending in October 2025 could fall to as low as 7.5 million metric tons, the lowest in five years, said Asthana, who is also the CEO of Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS.

Palm oil is losing market share to soft oils, mainly sunflower oil and soybean oil, which are projected to account for a slightly larger volume of imports, he said.

Soft oils describe those that remain liquid at room temperature, whereas palm oil hardens.

Palm oil accounted for 56% of India's total edible oil imports in the last marketing year, but in the first three months of the current year its share fell to 43%, the SEA data showed.

Palm oil has been trading at a premium over rival oils for the past few months as supplies from top producers Indonesia and Malaysia were affected by floods at a time when Jakarta has also moved to increase the tropical oil's use in biodiesel.

The current premium for palm oil is not sustainable, and once it begins trading at a discount, likely within two months, Indian buyers will increase their imports, Asthana said.

Soyoil imports in the current year could increase by 1 million to 1.5 million tons from last year's 3.4 million tons, while sunflower oil imports may rise slightly from last year's record level of 3.5 million tons, he said.

India meets nearly two-thirds of its vegetable oil demand through foreign sourcing. It buys palm oil from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, while soyoil and sunoil come from Argentina, Brazil, Russia and Ukraine.

The rising availability of local oils, which will help fulfil incremental demand, is expected to keep the country's total edible oil imports steady at around 16 million tons this year, Asthana said.

(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav and Ashley Tang; Editing by Jamie Freed and David Evans)

(([email protected]; Reuters Messaging: x.com/Rajendra1857))

Feb 19 (Reuters) - Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS:

• SUPREME COURT QUASHES 1.86 BILLION RUPEES DEMANDS ON CO

Source text: ID:nBSE9PntpY

Further company coverage: PAFO.NS

(([email protected];;))

Feb 18 (Reuters) - Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS:

• SUPREME COURT DISMISSES INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT'S SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION

Source text: ID:nBSE6LG40W

Further company coverage: PAFO.NS

(([email protected];;))

Feb 10 (Reuters) - Indian consumer goods maker Patanjali Foods PAFO.NS reported a 71% rise in third-quarter profit on Monday, aided by robust demand at its mainstay cooking oils business.

The Ruchi Gold oil maker's profit rose to 3.71 billion rupees ($42.4 million) for the three months ended December 31, from 2.17 billion rupees a year earlier.

Demand for edible oil, a staple in Indian households, has remained strong in recent quarters, even as inflation-affected consumers avoided branded consumer goods and oil makers raised prices to pass on rising ingredient costs.

Last month, larger peer Adani Wilmar ADAW.NS reported a twofold surge in quarterly profit, aided by demand for its cooking oils.

Revenue from Patanjali's edible oils segment, which makes up nearly three-fourths of its total revenue, rose 22.5% during the quarter.

That fuelled a 15% growth in overall revenue to 91.03 billion rupees.

However, revenue from the food and fast moving consumer goods segment fell 18%, hurt by subdued demand in the category.

Patanjali Foods' expenses rose 13% as a mid-September hike in import taxes on crude and refined edible oils drove up input costs for the company.

($1 = 87.4800 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Nishit Navin in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath)

(([email protected];))

Feb 5 (Reuters) - Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS:

• PATANJALI FOODS LTD - PATANJALI GROUP PARTNERS WITH IBSFINTECH FOR TREASURY MANAGEMENT

Source text: ID:nBSE5hxxgv

Further company coverage: PAFO.NS

(([email protected];;))

Jan 23 (Reuters) - Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS:

• FSSAI DIRECTS PATANJALI FOODS TO RECALL RED CHILLI POWDER BATCH AJD2400012

Source text: ID:nBSEZKY6H

Further company coverage: PAFO.NS

(([email protected];;))

Jan 9 (Reuters) - Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS:

• PATANJALI FOODS LTD - FILES APPEAL AGAINST ARBITRATION TRIBUNAL AWARD

Source text: ID:nBSE5xSjsm

Further company coverage: PAFO.NS

(([email protected];))

Dec 16 (Reuters) - Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS:

• PATANJALI FOODS LTD - STARTS COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION AT NIGLOK PALM OIL MILL

Source text: ID:nBSEbslsY7

Further company coverage: PAFO.NS

(([email protected];))

Nov 26 (Reuters) - Life Insurance Corporation of India LIFI.NS:

• LIC - INCREASED SHAREHOLDING IN PATANJALI FOODS FROM 4.986% TO 5.020%

Further company coverage: LIFI.NS

(([email protected];))

Oct 24 (Reuters) - Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS:

• Q2 PAT 3.09 BILLION RUPEES

• Q2 REVENUE FROM OPERATIONS 81.54 BILLION RUPEES

Source text for Eikon: [ID:]

Further company coverage: PAFO.NS

(([email protected];;))

Oct 9 (Reuters) - Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS:

• ARBITRATION TRIBUNAL PASSED AWARD IN ARBITRATION WITH ASHAV ADVISORY

• AWARD DIRECTS PATANJALI AYURVED, OTHERS TO PROVIDE AAL WITH 18.7 MILLION SHARES OF CO

Source text for Eikon: ID:nBSE5ZTrrT

Further company coverage: PAFO.NS

(([email protected];;))

Oct 8 (Reuters) - Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS:

• INDIA COMPETITION WATCHDOG: APPROVES BUYING OF HOME, PERSONAL CARE BUSINESS OF PATANJALI AYURVED BY PATANJALI FOODS

Further company coverage: PAFO.NS

(([email protected];))

Recasts first paragraph, updates with Indonesia palm oil association comments in paragraphs 14-15

By Rajendra Jadhav

MUMBAI, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Indian refiners cancelled 100,000 metric tons of palm oil purchases for delivery between October and December, as New Delhi's move to raise import duties amid a rally in overseas prices prompted them to book profits, five trade officials told Reuters.

Refiners in the world's largest importer of palm oil cancelled this quantity over the past four days, including 50,000 tons on Monday, after Malaysian palm oil futures jumped to their highest level in 2-1/2 months.

The Indian cancellations could limit the rally in Malaysian palm oil prices FCPOc3, although they could support soyoil prices BOc2 as some refiners shift to soyoil.

India earlier this month raised the basic import tax on crude and refined edible oils by 20 percentage points, which effectively increases the total import duty on crude palm oil to 27.5% from 5.5%.

"The hefty duty hike and the jump in Malaysian prices caught everyone off guard," said an Indian buyer who operates a refinery on the east coast and cancelled palm oil shipments for October delivery.

"It created a situation where refiners can make more money by cancelling old purchases instead of refining and selling. Sellers are happy too, since they can now sell at higher prices to new buyers."

India, on average, imports 750,000 tons of palm oil every month, and the cancellation of 100,000 tons represents about 13.3% of monthly imports.

Crude palm oil (CPO) is currently being offered at about $1,080 a ton, including cost, insurance and freight (CIF), in India for October delivery, compared to around $980 to $1,000 a month ago, giving profit margin of $80 to $100 to buyers.

East Coast-based refiners are washing out on contracts by cancelling them and making a very decent profit, said Aashish Acharya, vice president at Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS, a leading importer of edible oils.

India imports palm oil mainly from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

"Refiners aren't sure about the demand for the December quarter with these higher prices. They're also worried about whether the prices will hold. That's why they're cancelling contracts," said Sandeep Bajoria, chief executive of Sunvin Group, a vegetable oil brokerage and consultancy firm.

Price-sensitive Asian buyers traditionally rely on palm oil due to its low cost and quick shipping times. However, with the recent rise in prices, palm oil is now trading at a premium over soyoil.

Buyers will prefer buying cheaper soyoil and sunflower oil for winter months than expensive palm oil, said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global trade house.

Indonesia's palm oil producer association GAPKI hoped the recent changes in Indonesia's export levy could boost global demand of the edible oil, especially from India, the group secretary general Hadi Sugeng said late on Monday.

The world's biggest palm oil exporter Indonesia last week lowered its palm oil export levy to improve competitiveness against rival edible oils.

India's palm oil imports usually moderate during winter months as the tropical oil solidifies at lower temperatures.

India buys soybean and sunflower oil mainly from Argentina, Brazil, Russia and Ukraine.

(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by David Evans and Stephen Coates)

(([email protected]; +91-22-68414378 ; https://x.com/Rajendra1857))

Sept 23 (Reuters) - Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS:

• INVESTED 200 MILLION RUPEES IN UNIT RISHIKRISHI FARMING

Source text for Eikon: ID:nBSE7j041M

Further company coverage: PAFO.NS

(([email protected];;))

By Rajendra Jadhav

MUMBAI, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil is likely to trade between 3,700 to 4,500 ringgit ($885 to $1,053) a metric ton from now until June, as demand is expected to be buoyant during the Chinese Lunar New Year and the holy month of Ramadan, industry analyst Dorab Mistry said.

The benchmark palm oil contract FCPOc3 for December delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange gained 42 ringgit, or 1.08%, to 3,918 ringgit ($937.74) a metric ton as of 0604 GMT on Friday.

"Prices will begin a new bull market in Jan-March 25. The combination of Chinese New Year and Ramadan in the Jan-March quarter is bullish," said Mistry, a director of Indian consumer goods company Godrej International, in a presentation at industry conference Globoil in Mumbai on Friday.

Palm oil consumption tends to rise during the Chinese New Year festivities. Similarly, consumption of edible oils usually jumps during the holy month of Ramadan, due in late February and March next year, as Muslims gather for communal feasts to break their fast.

Demand for vegetable oils from the food and energy sectors is likely to grow by 6 million metric tons in 2024-25 mainly due to rising consumption in Brazil, India, Indonesia and the United States, Mistry said.

He added factors such as crude oil prices, overall climatic conditions and weather conditions in South America - a leading producer of soybeans - would weigh on palm oil prices.

Any move by India to reduce tariffs later this year or next year would be a key factor in determining palm oil prices, Mistry said.

India last week sharply raised the basic import tax on crude and refined edible oils by 20 percentage points to help protect farmers reeling from lower oilseed prices.

Despite the hike in import duties, India's edible oil consumption is set to grow at a pace of 2% to 3% as cooking oils remain affordable, Sanjeev Asthana, CEO at Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS, a leading importer, told Reuters on Wednesday.

Mistry said U.S. soyoil futures would continue to benefit from brisk biodiesel demand.

($1 = 4.1780 ringgit)

(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Jamie Freed)

(([email protected]; Twitter: @MayankBhardwaj9;))

By Rajendra Jadhav

MUMBAI, Sept 18 (Reuters) - India's edible oil consumption is set to grow at a pace of 2%-3% as cooking oils remain affordable despite an import duty hike, a leading importer told Reuters on Wednesday.

New Delhi on Friday raised the basic import tax on crude and refined edible oils by 20 percentage points to help protect farmers reeling from lower oilseed prices.

"As we enter the peak festival season, demand will remain strong. Despite the duty hike, edible oil prices are affordable," said Sanjeev Asthana, chief executive officer at Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS.

"Edible oils' demand could grow by 2%-3% in the 2024-2025 marketing year starting from Nov. 1 because of rising population and prosperity," he said.

India is the world's largest importer and meets 70% of its vegetable oil demand through foreign sourcing. It buys palm oil from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, while soyoil and sunoil come from Argentina, Brazil, Russia and Ukraine.

The country's palm oil imports in 2024-25 could be between 9-10 million metric tons compared to around 9 million tons this year as tropical oil is likely to regain the market share it lost to rival sunflower oil due to a higher premium, he said.

"We witnessed an unusual surge in sunflower oil imports this year due to attractive prices. Next year, sunflower oil imports may return to the normal range of 3 million tons," he said.

India's sunoil imports in the current year are expected to surge to record 3.6 million tons from year-ago 3 million tons.

Russia and Ukraine's abundant sunoil supplies brought prices down and made it competitive against rival oils.

Soyoil imports would remain largely steady next year, around this year's level of 3 million tons, Asthana said.

India's soybean crop in 2024 could rise to 11 million tons from approximately 10 million tons last year, if the weather remains favourable over the next few weeks, he said.

(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Sumana Nandy)

(([email protected]; +91-22-68414378 ; Reuters Messaging: [email protected]))

Sept 16 (Reuters) - Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS:

• PROMOTER PATANJALI AYURVED SOLD 2.71% STAKE IN CO VIA BLOCK TRADE

Source text for Eikon: ID:nBSE7vtnvl

Further company coverage: PAFO.NS

(Reporting by VijayDattaram Malkar)

(([email protected];))

CHENNAI/BENGALURU, Aug 5 (Reuters) - India's Marico MRCO.NS, which owns the Saffola and Parachute packaged oil brands, reported a slightly bigger-than-expected increase in first-quarter profit on Monday, helped by steady demand and said its earnings would grow this year.

The company's consolidated net profit rose 8.7% to 4.64 billion rupees ($55.4 million) in the April-June quarter, just above analysts' average estimate of 4.63 billion rupees, according to LSEG data.

Total revenue from operations increased 6.7% to 26.43 billion rupees, marking its biggest growth in more than two years. Revenue from India, which made up three-fourths of total revenue, climbed 7.4%.

For Marico, sales volumes for both cooking and hair oils increased in the quarter. While the Parachute hair oil business was helped by higher prices, its Saffola cooking oil business benefitted from price cuts.

Revenue growth will "trend upwards" on higher sales volumes, including in the international business, with earnings also increasing this financial year, Marico said in an investor update.

The company's shares were up 2.1% at 676.6 rupees at 14:05 IST, taking their gains for the year to more than 23%.

Branded cooking oil sellers in India, including Fortune-owner Adani Wilmar ADAW.NS and Ruchi Gold-owner Patanjali Foods PAFO.NS, typically book higher profits when edible oil prices are stable, according to industry executives.

Last month, both companies posted solid profits, also citing a stability in edible oil prices.

Overall, though, consumer goods makers have posted mixed results.

Dove soap-maker Hindustan Unilever HLL.NS reported higher earnings as price cuts boosted demand, while KitKat-maker Nestle India NEST.NS reported its slowest growth in eight years as price hikes drove consumers away.

($1 = 83.8220 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Praveen Paramasivam in Chennai and Ashna Teresa Britto in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza)

(([email protected]; +91 867-525-3569;))

July 31 (Reuters) - Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS:

• CLARIFICATION ON RECENT NEWS ITEM ABOUT GQG PORTFOLIO

• AGGREGATE SHAREHOLDING OF GQG ENTITIES IN CO WAS 3.19% AS OF MARCH 31 AND JUNE 30

• THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN SHAREHOLDING OF GQG INDIA ENTITIES DURING JUNE QUARTER

Source text for Eikon: ID:nBSE16zfvV

Further company coverage: PAFO.NS

(([email protected];;))

BENGALURU, July 29 (Reuters) - India's Adani Wilmar ADAW.NS reported a first-quarter profit on Monday, compared with a year-ago loss, helped by higher sales of its edible oils and foods such as basmati rice, sending its shares up more than 6% in afternoon trading.

The company, a joint venture between Indian ports-to-power Adani group and Singapore's Wilmar International WLIL.SI, reported a consolidated net profit of 3.13 billion rupees ($37.4 million) for the April-June quarter.

That compared with a year-ago loss of 789.2 million rupees.

A 2% year-on-year rise in prices of palm oil -- a key raw material -- helped power an 8% jump in revenue in Adani Wilmar's mainstay edible oil segment.

Sales volumes rose 12% in the business, which includes the 'Fortune' brand of oil and accounts for three-fourths of the company's total revenue.

The stability in edible oil prices augurs well and the consumer shift to branded staples is also benefitting the business, said CEO and Managing Director Angshu Mallick.

Revenue from the company's foods unit, which includes soya chunks and basmati rice, grew 40%, with volumes surging 42%.

Adani Wilmar, which has also been expanding its distribution, said overall revenue increased 10% to 141.69 billion rupees.

Earlier this month, Patanjali Foods PAFO.NS, which makes 'Ruchi Gold' brand of edible oils, reported a threefold jump in quarterly profit, also benefitting from stable edible oil prices and higher demand for its packaged foods.

'Saffola' oil-maker Marico MRCO.NS is set to report results next month.

Adani Wilmar's shares were last up 6.4%, cutting their losses for the year to 2.6%. Patanjali Foods's stock has risen about 7% in 2024, while Marico's has jumped nearly 24%.

($1 = 83.7275 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Hritam Mukherjee and Ashna Teresa Britto in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza)

(([email protected]; X: @MukherjeeHritam;))

July 19 (Reuters) - Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS:

• PATANJALI FOODS Q1 PAT 2.63 BILLION RUPEES

• PATANJALI FOODS Q1 REVENUE FROM OPERATIONS 71.73 BILLION RUPEES

Source text for Eikon: [ID:]

Further company coverage: PAFO.NS

(([email protected];))

** Shares of Patanjali Foods PAFO.NS rise as much as 3.8% to 1,764.4 rupees, highest since March 23, 2018

** Co approved the acquisition of the entire non-food business undertaking, including hair care, skin care, dental care, carried out by Patanjali Ayurved (PAL) for a consideration of 11 bln rupees ($131.7 mln)

** Co and PAL also entered into a licensing agreement for use of PAL's licensed intellectual properties

** More than 1.9 mln shares change hands, 2.7x its 30-day avg

** Stock gained 19% in June qtr

($1 = 83.5330 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Ashna Teresa Britto in Bengaluru)

(([email protected] ; ( +91 8078332441))

July 1 (Reuters) - Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS:

• PATANJALI FOODS LTD - APPROVED ACQUISITION OF ENTIRE NON-FOOD BUSINESS UNDERTAKING CARRIED OUT BY PATANJALI AYURVED

• PATANJALI FOODS - CONSIDERATION FOR ACQUISITION SHALL BE 11 BILLION RUPEES

• PATANJALI FOODS LTD - HOME AND PERSONAL CARE BUSINESS ACQUISITION BY PATANJAII FOODS LIMITED ON SLUMP SALE BASIS

• PATANJALI FOODS - CO AND PAL HAVE ALSO AGREED TO ENTER INTO A LICENSING AGREEMENT

• PATANJALI FOODS - LICENSING AGREEMENT PERMITS CO TO USE TRADEMARKS, ASSOCIATED IPR OWNED BY PAL

• PATANJALI FOODS - LICENSING ARRANGEMENT FOR 3 % TURNOVER BASED FEE ALONG WITH OTHER CONDITIONS HAS BEEN AGREED BETWEEN CO, PAL

Source text for Eikon: ID:nNSE2Xb4q9

Further company coverage: PAFO.NS

(([email protected];))

June 27 (Reuters) - Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS:

• NOTICES RECEIVED FROM KARNATAKA STATE POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD

• DIRECTED TO IMMEDIATELY STOP FLOW OF ANY KIND OF EFFLUENT INTO STORM WATER DRAIN TO OUTSIDE PREMISES

• KSPCB ISSUED RETRAINING ORDER TO CO PROHIBITING/RESTRAINING INDUSTRY/UNIT FROM DISCHARGE OF UNTREATED EFFLUENT TO WATER BODIES

• KSPCB HAS ISSUED RETRAINING ORDER PROHIBITING UNIT FROM DISCHARGE OF UNTREATED EFFLUENT TO STORM WATER DRAIN TO WATER BODIES

• CO IS IN PROCESS OF COMPLYING WITH DIRECTIVES ISSUED BY KSPCB

• DIRECTED TO SUBMIT REPLY AS TO WHY KSPCB SHALL NOT REVOKE CONSENT ISSUED UNDER WATER (PREVENTION & CONTROL OF POLLUTION) ACT

Further company coverage: PAFO.NS

(([email protected];))

June 26 (Reuters) - Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS:

• PATANJALI FOODS - DIRECTORS OF CO RECEIVED NOTICE FROM COURT OF JUDICIAL FIRST-CLASS MAGISTRATE-IV, KOZHIKODE

• PATANJALI FOODS - DIRECTORS SWAMI RAMDEV AND ACHARYA BALKRISHNA RECEIVED NOTICE IN MATTER OF ADVERTISEMENT OF AYURVEDIC MEDICINES OF DIVYA PHARMACY

• PATANJALI FOODS LTD - NOTICE TO APPEAR IN PERSON OR THROUGH COUNSEL BEFORE COURT ON 6TH JULY

• PATANJALI FOODS LTD - MATTER IS RELATED TO ADVERTISEMENTS OF AYURVEDIC MEDICINES OF DIVYA PHARMACY WHICH HAVE NO BEARING ON PATANJALI FOODS

Source text for Eikon: ID:nBSE8sGrHW

Further company coverage: PAFO.NS

(([email protected];))

June 14 (Reuters) - Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS:

• PATANJALI FOODS - COMMERCIAL TAX DEPTT. ISSUED RECOVERY NOTICE FOR 2 MILLION RUPEES TOWARDS SGST, CGST, INTEREST, PENALTY

Source text for Eikon: ID:nBSE4WSBLF

Further company coverage: PAFO.NS

(([email protected];))

June 11 (Reuters) - Patanjali Foods Ltd PAFO.NS:

• CLARIFIES NEWS ITEM IN MEDIA ON PATANJALI AYURVED'S NON-FOOD BUSINESS TO MERGE WITH PATANJALI FOODS

• ON APRIL 26, 2024 HAD DISCUSSED INITIAL PROPOSAL RECEIVED FROM PATANJALI AYURVED

• DISCUSSION IS IN PROGRESS

• A COMMITTEE OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR, CEO, CFO WAS FORMED TO EVALUATE PROPOSAL, CARRY OUT DILIGENCE AND VALUATIONS

Further company coverage: PAFO.NS

(([email protected];))

BENGALURU, May 14 (Reuters) - India's Patanjali Foods PAFO.NS reported a 22% fall in fourth-quarter profit on Tuesday, as sluggish demand dragged overall sales down in its mainstay edible oils business amid a surge in expenses.

The Ruchi Gold oil maker's profit fell to 2.06 billion rupees (around $25 million) for the quarter ended March 31, from 2.64 billion rupees a year earlier.

Higher prices of everyday items like milk and wheat flour have slowed demand for consumer goods in rural India, causing people to cut back their spending on other essentials as well as discretionary items.

Patanjali's revenue from the edible oils segment fell nearly 9%, to 58.89 billion rupees, limiting its overall revenue growth.

The company's total expenses rose about 6%, to 80.48 billion rupees.

However, the firm said it is optimistic about an increase in rural demand in the upcoming quarters.

Last month, India's Supreme Court reprimanded the head of a state drug regulator for negligence in addressing claims made by yoga guru Baba Ramdev's company, Patanjali Ayurved.

Despite being informed in 2018 about advertisements by its Divya Pharmacy unit, which claimed to cure chronic diseases, the state drugs department failed to take action against Patanjali Ayurved, prompting criticism from the court.

Rival and Fortune cooking oil maker Adani Wilmar ADAW.NS reported a 67.5% rise in its fourth-quarter profit earlier this month.

($1 = 83.4753 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Navamya Ganesh Acharya in Bengaluru, Additional reporting by Manvi Pant; Editing by Pooja Desai)

(([email protected]; +91 8805175330 ;))