Maruti Suzuki Q4 net profit dips 4.6 pc to 1,795.6 cr

The country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) on Thursday reported a 4.6 per cent decline in net profit to Rs 1,795.6 crore for the fourth quarter of the 2018-19 fiscal.

The company had posted a net profit of Rs 1,882.1 crore in the January-March period of 2017-18, MSI said in a statement.

Net sales during the quarter rose to Rs 20,737.5 crore, up marginally over the year-ago period.

Total car sales dip marginally to 4,58,479 units during the quarter under review, the company said.

For the entire 2018-19 fiscal, MSI posted a net profit of Rs 7,500.6 crore, down 2.9 per cent from the previous fiscal.

Net sales last fiscal stood at Rs 83,026.5 crore, a rise of 6.3 per cent from 2017-18.

Total volume sales during 2018-19 were up 4.7 per cent to 18,62,449 units. Of this, 1,08,749 units were exported, the company said.

The company said that the quarter was marked by adverse foreign exchange rates and commodity prices, higher depreciation and higher sales promotion expenses. It was partially offset by cost reduction efforts.

The board of directors of the company has also recommended a dividend of Rs 80 per share for 2018-19.

MSI shares were trading 0.04 per cent lower at Rs 7,021.50 apiece on the BSE.