MANGALAM CEMENT-Lower Government Purchases

Capacity Expansion Promoted by the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PS1DC), Punjab Alkalies and Chemicals (PAC) is engaged in the manufacture of caustic soda. The company saw a 26.3 per cent rise in net sales in 1992-93 and a 15.6 per cent increase in operating profit. However, a sharp rise in depreciation provision and a Rs 3.3 crore tax provision for the year (as against a nil tax provision last year) saw the company's net profit suffer by 15 per cent over the same period. During the year production of caustic soda improved to 45.017 mt from 42,896 mt last year. Liquid chlorine produced was also higher at 25,434 mt at against 23-,635 mt produced last year. While sale of caustic soda lye, caustic soda flakes and liquid chlorine improved in volume terms from respectively, to 31,902 mt, 11,258 mt and