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Published on March 11, 2008

"Now we're waiting for an answer from the Internal Trade Department. If the department does not approve our request, we will negotiate with its officials," director Veerawat Korphaibool said yesterday.

Spare automobile batteries were put on the department's price control list earlier this year.

The global price of lead is now US$3,000 to $3,500 (Bt94,600 to Bt110,000) per tonne, up from an average of $3,000 a tonne last year, Veerawat said, adding that lead accounted for 60 per cent of total material costs.

The company had to increase prices three times last year, ending up 50 per cent above those in 2006.

The company' net profit skyrocketed 97.15 per cent to Bt296 million last year, thanks to higher sales in both domestic and international markets and lower operating costs. Sales surged 33.99 per cent to Bt5 billion.

"This resulted in the company's net profit margin rising to 23.28 per cent, from 20.11 per cent the year before. And we wish to maintain the net profit margin at last year's level," Veerawat said.

The company's 3K battery is the leader, with 35 per cent of the entire Bt6-billion replacement market last year. Thai Storage Battery will spend Bt10 million this year to expand its domestic retail chain from 200 stores now to 300. The company is also eyeing new foreign markets like Australia and New Zealand.

The company has targeted sales growth of at least 10 per cent this year, due to shop expansion and foreign-market penetration. It already ships to more than 50 countries.

Nalin Viboonchart

The Nation