Last year's net profit for Cal-Comp Elec-tronics (Thailand) grew 37 per cent to Bt2.43 billion, thanks to a significant increase in sales of computer peripheral products manufactured in Thailand and China.

The company's 2005 net profit came in at Bt1.76 billion.

The firm said in a filing with the Stock Exchange of Thailand yesterday that its sales last year totalled Bt77.7 billion, up 32.74 per cent.

"The significant revenue increase in 2006 came from the rise in sales of computer peripheral products from both existing and new customers and made by the Thai and Chinese plants. Sales of computer peripherals increased 68.72 per cent," the statement said.

"Company sales of telecommunications products amounted to 19.17 per cent of overall revenues, office equipment products 2.21 per cent and home-entertainment products 0.31 per cent."

The gross margin declined from 5.49 per cent in 2005 to 5.08 per cent last year, the company said.

Cal-Comp was, however, able to cut the ratio of selling and administrative expenses from 2.07 per cent in the previous year to 1.54 per cent in 2006.

This was attributed to improvements in factory management and efficiency control.

The company reported separately to the stock exchange that its board had decided to pay an interim dividend of 20 satang a share on April 26 for last year's second-half performance.