November 8, 2003	Saturday	Ramazan 12, 1424

TOKYO, Nov 7: Suzuki Motor Corp, Japan’s leading minivehicle maker, reported a 27 per cent jump in interim operating profit on Friday, helped by surging sales in Asia and aggressive cost-cutting.

The results put Suzuki, one-fifth owned by General Motors Corp and the nation’s fourth-largest auto maker by market value, well on track to post record profits for the full year.

Consolidated operating profit grew to 48 billion yen ($435 million) for the six months to September 30 — a result also boosted by the inclusion of Indonesia’s PT Indomobil Suzuki International (ISI) into its consolidated accounts.

Although numbers were inflated by the addition of ISI, Suzuki reported Asian car sales rocketed nearly 50 per cent to 264,000 units in the first half as production climbed in India, Indonesia, China and Pakistan.

Motorcycle sales also jumped in Asia for Suzuki, the world’s third-largest motorbike maker, nearly climbing four-fold on strong demand in countries like Indonesia and Thailand.

Net profit jumped to 25 billion yen, a 146 per cent rise over last year’s first half when Suzuki booked an extraordinary loss for gaining greater control of Maruti Udyog Ltd, India’s dominant car company.

Suzuki maintained its full-year forecast of a 13 per cent climb in net profit to 35 billion yen, although analysts generally expect the minivehicle maker to top that.—Reuters