Raw materials costs hit profits at Kao
The Japanese cosmetics group Kao has posted a drop in net profits in the first nine months of 2007-2008 due to high raw materials costs and despite a rise in sales. Net earnings in the period April-December 2007 fell 7% year-on-year to ¥57.7bn. Operating profits dipped 2.1% to ¥96.1 bn. Sales at group level went up 7.3% to ¥1000.1bn (€620m) with strong growth of 20.5% in major selling lines - soaps, shampoos etc - in the Asia-Oceanic region.
The Japanese cosmetics group Kao has posted a drop in net profits in the first nine months of 2007-2008 due to high raw materials costs and despite a rise in sales. Net earnings in the period April-December 2007 fell 7% year-on-year to ¥57.7bn. Operating profits dipped 2.1% to ¥96.1 bn. Sales at group level went up 7.3% to ¥1000.1bn (€620m) with strong growth of 20.5% in major selling lines - soaps, shampoos etc - in the Asia-Oceanic region.