Tue, 25 Feb 1997

Tri Polyta posts Rp 10.6b net loss in 4th quarter

JAKARTA (JP): PT Tri Polyta Indonesia announced yesterday a net loss of Rp 10.6 billion (about US$4.4 million) for the fourth quarter of last year after a net income of Rp 8.3 billion in the same period of 1995.

The company said the net loss, on U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) basis, was Rp 413 per American Depository Share (ADS). This compared to net income of Rp 322 per ADS during the fourth quarter of 1995.

Tri Polyta, which is listed on Jakarta and New York stock exchanges, attributed the loss to a narrow Delta P caused by declining polypropylene prices in Asia and high spot propylene prices because of an acute regional shortage.

"In addition, rising naphta prices added to increased propylene costs," the company said.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization was Rp 16.4 billion for the fourth quarter of 1996 compared to Rp 25.1 billion for the same quarter a year ago.

Tri Polyta's average Delta P was $264 in the fourth quarter of 1996 compared to the average spread of $451 in the same quarter a year ago.

In Asia a significant polypropylene capacity expansion entered commercial production in the fourth quarter of 1996 and capped the upside of for polypropylene prices.

Tri Polyta said this expansion came on line before planned feedstock capacity expansions caused demand to exceed supply causing an acute propylene shortage in Asia.

For the fourth quarter of 1996 the company reported net sales of Rp 178.5 billion, a 45 percent rise on the Rp 123.5 billion for the same quarter of the year before.

"This increase reflects sales volume growth driven by the company's strategy of pushing sales in order to benefit from lower cash conversion costs on full production," the company said.

On an Indonesian GAAP basis, the net loss for the fourth quarter of 1994 totaled Rp 11.5 billion or Rp 45 a share, compared to net income of Rp 6.2 billion or Rp 24 a share in the same period of 1995.

Net sales for the year ended Dec. 31, 1996 rose 22.7 percent to Rp 720.4 billion from Rp 587.2 billion in 1995. Total sales volume increased 51.5 percent to 353,455 tons compared to the same period in 1995.

Total production for the year was 335,030 tons, a 34.7 percent rise from the 248,691 tons in 1995. This production gave the company an annualized 1996 average cash conversion cost of $143 a ton.

Tri Polyta's income before tax and minority interest on the Indonesian GAAP basis during 1996 was Rp 33.5 billion compared to Rp 73.2 billion in 1995.

This increase reflected higher interest costs of Rp 27.3 billion, mainly because of increased borrowing for its expansion, the company said.

Net income on an Indonesian GAAP basis was Rp 26 billion or Rp 101 a share, compared to net income of Rp 58.5 billion or Rp 227 a share in the same period of 1995.

Net income under the U.S. GAAP basis was Rp 34.9 billion or Rp 1,354 per ADS, compared to net income of Rp 65 billion or Rp 2,524 per ADS in the same period of 1995. (hen)