Companies bullish about growth amidst soaring prices and inflation

Mumbai-based Essel Propack, a part of Essel Group and is a manufacturer of laminated and seamless or extruded plastic tubes and a packaging major, reported a global net profit of Rs 80.49 crore for the quarter ended 31st December, 2013 which was up from the previously reported Rs 54.06 crore for 31st December, 2012. 

On the other hand, the Indian operations contributed Rs 42.37 crore for the quarter ended 31st December, 2013 as compared to the Rs 36.05 lakhs for 31st December, 2012 reporting a year-on-year growth of 17.53 percent for its Indian operations.

Electronics For Imaging (EFI), who caters to customer-focused digital printing innovation, announced that, for the quarter ended December 31, 2013, the company reported revenue of $197.2 million (Rs 1222.64 crore ), up 13% compared to fourth quarter 2012 revenue of $174.1 million (Rs 1078.80 crore).

Additonally, DB Corp, the newspaper and printing giant's fourth quarter ended March 2013's consolidated net profit was up at Rs 55.3 crore against Rs 45.4 crore, a year ago. It also consolidated total income to Rs 398 crore versus Rs 353.2 crore in 2012. One of the foremost media conglomerate in India, it saw a 12% hike in total revenue generated in Q4 compared to the Q4 results of the last fiscal year, while advertising income and circulation figures also jumped by 13% and 18% respectively during the same period.

A recent report by a publication also revealed that the top 22 packaging firms in India recorded a total combined revenue of Rs 30,536.60-crore The Indian packaging industry is estimated to be worth 1,17,000 crore.

On the contrary, print companies are also facing the heat of the rising raw material prices.
 

[Read our reports on rising paper prices]

According to market reports, the Chennai-based Kasturi & Sons (KSL), a media house and the publisers of The Hindu will see marginal growth in its revenues. 

As per a report in a prominent business daily, "The drop in bottom line was attributed to the recently launched Tamil daily by KSL, which did not take off as expected. "The Tamil paper launch has affected the bottom line and was not along estimated lines."