Unilever profit rose 17% in first-half to IDR2 trillion on higher sales

JAKARTA: Consumer goods producer PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk's sales rose 16.9% to IDR2.06 trillion in the first-half this year as sales rose.Sales in the January-June period rose to IDR11.46 trillion, or 15.54% higher than the year earlier period. Cost of goods sold increased by around the same percentage number.President Director Maurits Lalisang has earlier said Unilever Indonesia targets to book IDR22 trillion in sales for 2011, from IDR19.7 trillion last year.Its gross profit rose 15.17% to IDR5.91 trillion, while operating profit rose 16.51% to IDR2.75 trillion.Unilever saw its liabilities increase 74.16% to IDR8.10 trillion, while its equity decrease 13.71% to IDR3.49 trillion.Surpasses targetPT Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk, which owns rights to sell products of 90 retail brands in Indonesia, is optimistic to surpass sales target at IDR5.58 trillion this year.The target is supported by companys business model and Indonesian purchasing power, particularly the middle-upper economic class.According to a Bloomberg survey on 11 analysts, Mitra Adiperkasa sales is predicted to reach IDR5.58 trillion in 2011 and IDR6.59 trillion in 2012.The MAPI-coded share booked IDR157.14 billion profit in the first half of 2011, rising 57.5% from IDR99.74 billion in the same period last year. Revenue rose 23.7% to IDR2.65 trillion. (03/15) (t05/msw)