Ansell's sales, earnings up

Red Bank, New Jersey-Ansell Ltd's sales and earnings rose for the fiscal year ended June 30, driven by strong sales in the company's three primary segments.

The rubber and synthetic latex glove and condom maker recorded net profit of $50.4 million (€40.8 million) for the year, up 72 percent from fiscal 2003. Sales rose 4.4 percent to about $791 million.

Ansell's Occupational Healthcare segment's sales rose 5.8 percent to $387.8 million spurred by a 26-percent increase in sales of its HyFlex range of gloves.

The company's Professional Healthcare unit's sales increased 2.3 percent to $271.6 million, although the division's sales in the US fell by 3 percent, principally because the surgical glove recovery was slower than expected, the firm said.

Ansell's Consumer Healthcare segment posted a 4.5-percent increase to about $132.5 million as condom sales rose 7 percent.