BOC India, a member of The Linde Group and one of the largest players in gas business in India, notched up a sales turnover of Rs 1,400.20 crore in CY 2012, up 20 per cent from Rs 1,168.20 crore recorded in CY 2011.

However, the PAT of the company in the same period dropped from Rs 121.70 crore (in CY 2011) to Rs 89.50 crore. The company attributed this slide in net profit to higher depreciation and interest cost for new investments.

The gas business recorded a sales growth of 20 per cent in CY 2012 over the previous year due to commissioning of new plants. The turnover of the project engineering division for the year grew by 16 per cent compared with 2011 as a result of higher export revenue, company spokesman said.

For Q4 of 2012, the company recorded a gross turnover of Rs 351.30 crore, down from Rs 361.30 crore achieved in the corresponding quarter of CY 2011. The gas business recorded a sales growth of 10 per cent over the corresponding period last calendar year. However, the sales of the project engineering division during the quarter was lower by 29 per cent compared with the previous year quarter given the high third party project sales booked in Q4 2011, the company said.