Agri business, hotels boost ITC profit
The HinduITC Ltd. closed the second quarter with a 11.9% rise in its net profit to ₹2,954.7 crore on a revenue of ₹11,272.5 crore. FMCG boost ITC said that its FMCG-others segment revenues rose 12.7% with most categories improving their market-standing. Paperboards, paper and packaging segment also saw an increase in profit driven by product mix enrichment, higher realisation, strategic investments in imported pulp substitution, process innovation leading to improved pulp yield and benefits of cost-competitive fibre chain. ITC, however, admitted that the limited pressure on legal cigarette industry volumes, adverse quality and leaf cost escalation pertaining to Andhra 2017 crop and lower export incentives weighed on cigarette segment results. An Edelman Securities Ltd report said that the 5 % rise in cigarette volumes beat their expectations although margins were impacted by Kerala floods and one off cost related to the graphic health warnings.