Estra 2018 results March 2019
Industrias Estra Full-Year 2018 Profits Improve Year-on-Year
Medellin-based plastic container manufacturer Industrias Estra revealed in a March 28, 2019 filing with Colombia’s Superfinanciera corporate oversight agency that its full-year 2018 net income rose to COP$1.2 billion (US$379,000), up from COP$1 billion (US$316,000) in 2017.
Sales were flat year-on-year, at COP$68.9 billion (US$22 million), while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) dipped to COP$4.1 billion (US$1.3 million), down from COP$5.1 billion (US$1.6 million) in 2017.
The company’s sales and profits generally followed macroeconomic trends in Colombia during 2018, according to Estra. First-half 2018 sales were depressed by uncertainty over national elections, but consumer and industrial confidence rebounded when moderate-conservative Ivan Duque won the presidency over socialist-populist rival Gustavo Petro.
As a result, Estra’s second-half 2018 sales rose to COP$36.3 billion (US$11.5 million), up from $34.8 billion (US$11 million) in the comparable second-half of 2017.
Export sales were a bright spot for Estra, up 17% year-on-year, “thanks to the opening of new markets” including restoration of free-market policies in neighboring Ecuador — due to the 2017 election of market-friendly President Lenin Moreno, who replaced vitriolic socialist-populist former President Rafael Correa.
In the Colombian domestic consumer-products market, Estra’s 2018 unit sales were flat year-on-year through its proprietary retail outlets, although average sales ticket grew. While industrial sales dipped 9% year-on-year, second-half 2018 industrial sales improved over the first half, the company added.
