UIC 2000 income increased

JAKARTA (JP): Chemical producer PT Unggul Indah Cahaya (UIC) announced on Wednesday a net consolidated income of US$13.8 million for 2000, a 54.7 percent increase from $9 million in the previous year.

The company said in a statement that its earnings from the exports of alkylbenzene increased 13.3 percent to $23 million last year from $20.3 million the previous year. Export volumes reached 20.976 tons in 2000, a 23 percent increase on the previous year.

Alkylbenzene, the sole product of the company, is the raw material for the making of detergent.

"The increase in exports amid political and economic instability is something to be grateful for ... this has been and remains our strategy and it fits well with the improving economic situation in the Asia Pacific region," UIC's president Hartono Gunawan said.

Gross consolidated income dropped by 17.25 percent to $34.1 million last year from $41.3 million in 1999. (tnt)