Taiwan Cement sees 2005 gross margin 11 per cent

Taiwan Cement Corp expects to increase its gross margin to 11% this year from 9 per cent in 2004 due to firming export prices, the Commercial Times reported.  

The company also expects to raise its return on equity (ROE) to 13 from 9 per cent, and its return on assets (ROA) to 10 from 8 per cent, it said. Taiwan Cement provided these estimates during an investment forum sponsored by Credit Suisse First Boston recently, the report added.  

Taiwan Cement estimates its 2005 profit to come in at TWD6bn, the report said without specifying whether the figure is pretax or net.    The company registered parent pretax profit of TWD4.65bn and net profit of TWD4.42bn in 2004.