Panasonic carbon's export up on sales to Group battery facilities

Exports of carbon rods to the Panasonic Group battery factories overseas has supported the company's growth last fiscal, despite the steep price increase in raw materials and severe power shortage affecting its domestic business, says Panasonic  Carbon India Co Ltd. The company has seen a drop in domestic sales on account of the reduction in a variety of carbon rod used in particular type of batteries.

The company's exports has increased almost four fold from 270.7 million pieces of carbon rods last year to 1021 million pieces this year, according to the company's annual report. In terms of value, the company has seen exports of Rs 17.91 crore during 2012-13, as against Rs 5.59 crore during the previous year.

'Compared to last year, export sales quantity works out to 377% and value 320%,' says the report. The company could stabilise the exports to Panasonic Group Battery Factories in Poland, Peru, Costa Rica, Thailand and Indonesia and achieve the above growth.

'The increase in profitability for the current year is mainly due to increased export sales in respect of orders from Panasonic Batter Companies and third parties and by the various cost control measures initiated,' added the report.

The company has sold 2,131 million pieces of carbon rods, as against, 1409 million pieces,in 2013-14, which is 151% of sales of last year. The domestic sales quantity and value were 1,110 million pieces and Rs 17.20 crore. The dp,estoc sales saw a drop mainly due to continuous steep reduction in a variety of carbon rods used in D size batteries. Though the total quantity is less compared to last year, the value was high due to marginal revision of price of another variety of Carbon Rods, added the company.

The company's finished product, carbon rods, is beng supplied as a critical component to the Indian dry batter industry, which is projecting a growth of 1-2% in the current year.