Kansai Nerolac Paints Limited (KNPL), one of the leading Paint companies in India, today at the Board meeting announced its unaudited results for the first quarter of financial year 2012-13. For the quarter, the company declared net sales of Rs. 7.23bn marking a growth of 11% over the same quarter of the previous year. EBITA was Rs. 969mn a growth of 6.4 % over the same quarter of the previous year.
 
Commenting on the announcement, H. M. Bharuka, Managing Director, Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd said, “Demand for the paint has been moderate during the quarter which is reflected in KNP numbers. The inflationary pressures witnessed in earlier quarters have reduced, however the fall in the rupee has ensured that input costs have not come down. KNPL has been able to partly pass on this increase to the market. Going forward uncertainty in the economy, concern on the monsoon, depreciation of the rupee keeping input costs high, all make the immediate future very challenging both in terms of top-line and profitability. We will have to wait and watch as to how these factors will play out and hence the out-look for the short term remains cautious Overall, however the picture of paint demand remains very positive over the long term.”

Outlook of Indian Paint Industry:
 
The size of domestic paint industry is estimated at Rs 291bn as of Mar 2012. The good growth in infrastructure, core sector as well as automobile and real estate is likely to have a positive effect on the overall demand of paint for the industry.