Asahimas' profits fall

Asahimas' profits fall

JAKARTA (JP): PT Asahimas Flat Glass' net profit fell 23.7
percent in the first nine months of this year to Rp 42.9 billion
(US$18.20 million) from Rp 53.06 billion for the same period last
year.

The company announced Monday that net sales had fallen 12.5
percent to Rp 264.7 billion ($112 million) for the January to
September period from Rp 297.7 billion for the same period last
year.

The public company makes fabricated, high-quality and
specialty glass for exports. It also produces commodity and
figured glass for the domestic building and automobile
industries.

The company said it expected sales to improve in the fourth
quarter of this year.

Asahimas said it had secured new orders to produce automotive
safety glass for new car models in Indonesia.

The average price of the company's fabricated glass increased
0.3 percent to Rp 2.063 million ($875) a ton in the third quarter
of 1996 from Rp 2.056 million ($872) a ton for the same period of
1995.

High-quality and specialty glass sold 2.7 percent lower, for
Rp 979,000 ($415) a ton, this year from last year's average price
of Rp 1 million ($424) a ton.

The average price of commodity and figured glass fell 4
percent to Rp 782,000 ($332) a ton in the third quarter from Rp
785,000 ($333) a ton for the same period last year. (02)