Top Glove eyes RM5b revenue in 5 years

Top Glove Corporation Bhd aims to increase its revenue to RM5 billion in the next five years in sync with its plan to boost efficiency, its chairman Tan Sri Lim Wee Chai said today.

The world's largest rubber gloves manufacturer posted RM2.05 billion revenue for the financial year ended Aug 31, 2011.

“There’s always a chance to double revenue or profit. We want to have RM4 billion or even RM5 billion in the next five years,” he said.

Lim said the target was achievable in tandem with the company’s plan to invest heavily in technology and automation.

“It’s important for the company to invest in technology and automation in order to take it to the next level. We will invest more in human capital, technology, automation and research and development.

"This will include recruiting, retraining and retaining of staff,” he told a briefing for fund managers and the media.

Top Glove has allocated RM100 million for its capital expenditure (CAPEX) for this year. Last year, between RM100 million and RM120 million was spent for CAPEX.

Lim said the company expects to achieve 30 per cent earnings growth by December this year with the weaker latex price and stronger US dollar.

“This will be achieved if we are able to sell 45 billion pieces of gloves. Today, we are selling 40 billion pieces of gloves. We are getting closer to the five billion pieces.

“We are in a much better position this year. Last year was competitive with the headwinds and high latex price,” he said.

Managing Director Lee Kim Meow said Top Glove planned to buy 10,000 hectares of plantation land in Cambodia.

He said the company was looking at several pieces of plantation land in the north-east and south-east of Cambodia, bordering Vietnam.

Lee said Top Glove would go into this venture on its own as it had some experience in the rubber business.

“This plan is expected to materialise this year. The timing is right due to the weaker latex price. It’s good to be in a country where there's labour,” he said.

The company has estimated RM160 million for development cost, which includes land purchase, for seven years.

With the purchase, Top Glove will be involved in downstream, mid-stream and upstream business.

Lee said the company would continue acquiring plantation land in Cambodia, Indonesia, Sabah and Sarawak.

Lee said the company would look for land at good prices in these four places. “We are in the midst of applying through the governments and agencies. We hope to firm up on these in the next three to six months,” he added.