Asian Paints, on a standalone basis, has registered 21 per cent rise in net profit at Rs 251 crore for the quarter-ended December 31, 2011, as against Rs 207 crore logged in the same quarter last year.
Net sales rose 20 per cent to Rs 2110 crore from Rs 1754 crore.
Mr P.M. Murty, Managing Director and Chief executive Officer, Asian Paints, said “We witnessed good demand for decorative coatings business across the country. However, inflation and falling rupee has affected material prices, thus impacting margins”
However, industrial business, including auto continued to face challenging conditions. Political events and macro-economic uncertainty in some countries continue to affect international performance though South Asia has done well, he added.
On a consolidated basis, net sales were up 22 per cent at Rs 2,561 crore from Rs 2,100 crore. Net profit rose 17 per cent to Rs 257 crore from Rs 220 crore in the previous year.