NEW DELHI, Dec. 8 -- Prices of key inputs for the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector are moving in opposite directions, creating a mixed margin outlook for companies such as Hindustan Unilever Ltd, Marico Ltd and Parle Products Pvt. Ltd. Several agricultural inputs and packaging materials, for instance, are getting cheaper, while other commodities such as sugar, coffee, and fishmeal are becoming more expensive, potentially producing an uneven impact on FMCG companies' profit margins. Industry analysts say that the coming quarters may bring margin relief in some pockets for large food, beverage and home-and-personal-care companies, even as price volatility persists in other key commodities. "Considering current raw material inflation and GST 2.0 rollout, majority of the companies will witness volume-led growth in the second half of FY26, especially in food and beverages & beauty and personal care segments," said Ronak Shah of Equirus Securities. Edible oils remain among the more volatile inputs. Price of copra-crucial for manufacturers of hair oils, soaps and coconut-based foods-declined 6% in the ongoing quarter (as of November-end), but remains sharply elevated on a yearly basis, up 60% due to production disruptions and festive demand, Equirus Securities analysts said in a note on Thursday. The brokerage has used 1 December spot prices, rather than 31 December quarter-end data, for its sequential and annual comparisons. Companies say some margin respite is likely in the near term. "Palm oil prices have definitely cooled down the last four weeks on the back of good production in Malaysia and Indonesia. It is difficult to say how much we can pass on to the consumer because when the prices went up, we didn't hike prices a lot, and therefore, that impacted margins to a certain extent. Margins dropped with palm oil prices moving up. Now with the softening, we will have to see how competition behaves, and then take a call. The way palm oil and crude prices have been reasonably benign, I would say margins would improve a little bit," Vineet Agrawal, chief executive officer (CEO) of Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, told Mint on Friday....