THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The union public sector contraceptives manufacturing company Hindustan Latex Limited (HLL) recorded a turnover of Rs.213 crores to come up with a profit of Rs.22.65 crores after tax in 2005-06.

At a press conference here on Friday, company's Chairman and Managing Director M. Ayyappan said the turnover and profit recorded last year were the highest ever in the company's history. The company has drawn up plans to take the turnover to Rs.320 crores this year, he said.

In 2004-05, the HLL had achieved a turnover of Rs.195 crores and a profit of Rs.20.11 crores.

Production of condoms at the HLL's plants at Peroorkada in Thiruvananthapuram and Kanagala in Karnataka crossed the mark of 1 billion pieces last year.

The company has emerged as a global giant in the contraceptive market with a market share of nearly 10 per cent worldwide. In India, the HLL's products enjoy a market share of over 18 per cent, Mr. Ayyappan said.

He said the HLL's new products such as the spiral condom, the phosphorescent glow condom and the `Moods get closer pack' had all turned out to be hits in the market. It has recently launched the `confidom female condom,' a female controlled HIV/pregnancy prevention devise. He said the company had, in the recent years, focused on innovation, value addition and development of new products to beat competition. Two new products--a `vibrating ring condom' and a `three-in-one (dotted, ribbed and foam-fitted) condom' are due to be launched soon.

The HLL provides contraceptive and healthcare products for several public health programmes of international agencies. The company is also closely associated with the Union Government's National Rural Health Mission, Reproductive and Child Health project and National Aids Control Programme.

In the healthcare segment, it introduced recently a reuse prevention syringe under the brand name `Bsure.' It had earlier come out with `auto destructive syringe' called `Autolok' for the National Immunisation Programme.

Mr. Ayyappan said the company was now into the diversification mode and would shortly come out with vaccines. It will launch Hepatitis B vaccine and typhoid vaccine. It has plans to set up a network of `Lifespring Hospitals,' which would offer high quality medical attention to women and children. One such hospital each had been opened in Hyderabad and Kanpur and the third will start functioning at Agra by the end of this month.

He said HLL was targeting to take its turnover to Rs.1,000 crores by 2010.

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