Indofood books profits

JAKARTA (JP): PT Indofood Sukses Makmur announced yesterday a 15 percent increase in its net profit, to Rp 258.6 billion (US$111.5 million) in the first nine months of this year, up from Rp 225.07 billion in the same period of 1995.

The company, the country's largest instant noodle producer, said that net sales for the nine months the ended Sept. 30 were Rp 2.1 trillion, a 51 percent increase over the same period last year.

According to the statement, 54 percent of the sales were attributed to its noodle division, 37 percent to flour milling, and the rest to the company's snack food and baby food divisions.

The company, part of the widely diversified Salim group, also announced its intention to acquire Indomarco -- its primary distributor -- several companies of edible oils and fats, and palm oil plantations of the Salim Group.

The edible oils and fats group has a combined market share of 55 percent.

The Salim Group, which operates 53,000 hectare-palm oil plantations, produces 200,000 tons of crude palm oil each year. (bnt)