Supporting ‘Make in India’ campaign through sharing of advanced technology and increased share of exports to 40 per cent of total sales
SCHOTT plans to push ahead and continue with its growth strategy globally and for India in particular. The Group’s EBIT reached euro 178 million, marking a major increase from the euro 135 million in Fiscal Year 2013/2014. “Our focus was primarily on improving profitability in 2015, a goal which we fully met. Needless to say, we are pleased with the results of the last fiscal year,” emphasised Dr Frank Heinricht, Chairman of the management board, at the company’s recent annual results press conference.
Global sales were up by three per cent to euro 1.93 billion (euro1.87 billion) in fiscal year 2015 over previous year. For SCHOTT in India, sales in euro terms increased significantly, with the growth rate in double digits. The consolidated sales figure for the group was euro 82.4 million out of which approximately 30 per cent was exported. The main area of growth for India in FY2015 was domestic and export sales of tubing and packaging products for pharmaceutical industry, and special tubing for automobile halogen lamps. Another area of success was flat glass for home applications such as hop tops.
“We are pleased with the annual result for all divisions of SCHOTT. Our increased share in exports as well as successful joint venture of SCHOTT KAISHA are successful proof points of SCHOTT’s participation in the government’s ‘Make in India’ campaign, as well as our will to support exchange of advanced technology and knowledge,” said Murali Viswanathan, Managing Director — Sales Office, SCHOTT Glass India.
For the current fiscal year, SCHOTT plans to continue with a focus on growing its business. The company anticipates a sales increase somewhere between three and five per cent globally, achieved through consistently improving its profitability and accelerating growth for highly potential markets such as India. “In the years ahead, we are looking to successfully launch a number of innovations in the market. In addition, we want to grow our company in target regions as well as through acquisitions,” states Heinricht.
“According to India Ratings, a Fitch company, the Indian pharma industry is estimated to grow at 20 per cent compound annual growth rate over the next five years. SCHOTT aims at catering to this growing demand, via our products which adhere to global standards of quality and high safety measures,” said Heinricht.
EP News Bureau – Mumbai