KUALA LUMPUR: Glove maker Adventa Bhd's net profit for the first quarter ended Jan 31, 2010 (1QFY10) jumped 189% to RM9.35 million from RM3.23 million a year earlier on the back of a 12.5% rise in revenue to RM76.64 million, boosted by additional capacity.

Earnings per share (EPS) improved to 6.43 sen from 2.32 sen previously. The company did not declare any dividend.

Adventa said global demand for medical gloves remained robust and the trend was expected to continue for the remaining part of the year.

"Demand of both sterile surgical gloves and non-sterile examination gloves is strong in all markets. With Asia and South America showing a surging increase in usage of medical gloves, in part from a higher standard of healthcare delivery and better understanding of medical risks containment, and the matured market increasing the typical 5% to 10%, there will be a need for higher supply in the year," it said in notes accompanying its financial results.

Natural rubber latex prices have shot up strongly in the quarter from the cyclical lower output months of February to May. Additionally, uncertainties in the equities markets which fuelled speculation in the commodities, contributed to the high prices.

"This needs to be passed on to the consumer, which has in the past been successful and we do not see any difficulties this year in this respect as the commodity prices are well publicised," the company added.

Adventa said there may be a small change in margins in the next quarter from the time lag in price increments. However, the company does not expect a full-year margin impact.