Eveready sees profitability growing 30-35 per cent in FY'19

"We are looking forward to a 10-15 per cent rise in top line with normal monsoon, demand traction and elimination of import of low-end batteries from China and South East Asian countries. We hope the bottom line will grow by 30-35 per cent with better margins, cost saving measures, softer zinc prices, lowering losses from new businesses," Eveready managing director Amritanshu Khaitan told PTI.

In 2017-18, Eveready's operating income was Rs 1,456 crore and net profit stood at Rs 54.74 crore.

On dry cell battery business, Khaitan said he is expecting an additional growth of about 15 per cent as Chinese batteries might fail the mandatory quality test that will fully come into effect from October 2018.

Some low-quality batteries are being imported which directly hits the company's pricing, he said.

However, it would be subject to effective administration at the ports of entry by concerned authorities, to check such imports and benefit the organised players.

Dry cell and flashlights account for 70 per cent of its revenues. Eveready sells over 1.2 billion batteries and 25 million flashlights a year.

Khaitan also said that the company is passing full benefits of Goods and Services Tax (GST) reduction to customers. Recently, the government reduced the GST rate on appliances from 28 per cent to 18 per cent.