India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) has said that reciprocal tariffs will exacerbate stress for medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) but mid-sized corporates have a greater cushion against unanticipated financial shocks. With the worsening of operating conditions owing to the escalation of tariff war in April 2025, It expects MSMEs to turn more vulnerable, especially in the sectors where the impact of tariff war is negative.
As of March 31, 2024, its analysis suggested that 23 per cent of MSMEs remained stressed compared to 11 per cent for MCs (mid-corporates). MCs are better positioned than pre-COVID levels to manage business cycles. A study of 1,898 listed and unlisted MSMEs and 1,055 MCs highlights that MCs have a greater cushion against unanticipated financial shocks than MSMEs, given their healthy financial metrics.
Neermoy Shah, Associate Director - Emerging Corporates at Ind-Ra, said ‘Capex intensity is usually low as MSMEs grapple more with working capital issues than MCs, and need adequate finance at competitive rates to manage those. Additionally, MSMEs - unlike MCs - are largely promoter-driven entities and lack a capable second line of management who have the knowledge and skill sets to bargain with lenders/suppliers/customers’. Besides, Ind-Ra opined that the reciprocal tariffs will exacerbate stress for MSMEs, with revenue below Rs 250 crore and investment in plant and machinery below Rs 5 crore as of March 31, 2024, with moderate to high intensity.
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