Aarhus profit margin on the up

Danish oils and and oleochemicals company Aarhus Oliefabrik on Monday reported an operating income improvement of DKK 6.2 million to DKK 18.6 million for the first quarter of 2001. This figure compares with DKK 12.4 million for the first quarter of 2000. The value-added increase for the first quarter of 2001 was DKK 49 million higher than the same period in 2000. The value-added improvement was primarily attributable to Aarhus Olie, Denmark, Santa Lucia, Mexico, and Anglia Oils, United Kingdom. At Aarhus Inc., USA, a decline of DKK 7 million in value-added was mainly due to marginally lower volumes resulting from the"prevailing uncertain economic environment in the country,"​ the company claimed. In the first quarter of 2001, capital participations, before tax, comprising the groups' share of the profit of the associate company, United Plantations Berhad, Malaysia, totalled DKK 2 million. This was significantly lower than the first quarter of 2000, when capital participations amounted to DKK 11 million. The group states that the decline is due to the historically low price of palm oil. Aarhus anticipates that for the year as a whole, the consolidated result, after tax, is expected to amount toDKK 135-155 million, compared with the result of DKK 101 million for 2000. Source: Aarhus Olie​