World's largest condom maker - its Indian

Thiruvananthapuram-based mini-ratna PSU Hindustan Latex (HLL) today became the world's largest condom manufacturer with the commissioning of a new plant that boasts of an annual production capacity of 1 billion condoms.

The plant at Peroorkada in Thiruvananthapuram was today inaugurated by union minister for health and family welfare Anbumani Ramadoss. The new condom plant, built on a capital outlay of Rs 2,470 lakh, will add an additional 283 million condoms to the Peroorkada facility. With the new facility going on stream, the PSU would have a total annual production capacity of 1.316 billion condoms, which includes the out put at its Belgaum plant.

Showering laurels on Hind Latex's achievement, Ramadoss revealed that a Cabinet decision has been taken to enable Hindustan Latex continue to be the captive unit of the Centre for two more years so as the company would get 75% order of the government's requirements.

The company, which posted a turnover of Rs 244 crore and a net profit of Rs 19.50 crore during the past year, exports its products to over 70 countries around the world. Exports revenue stood at over Rs 27 crore during 2006-07. The company aims to boost its turnover become a Rs 1000-crore company by year 2010.

Hindustan Latex is the only company in the world manufacturing and marketing the widest range of contraceptives. The products, apart from the men's condoms, include female condoms, intra-uterine devices, oral contraceptive pills, emergency contraceptive pills, contraceptive cream and tubal rings.

The company would shortly start manufacturing and distribution of rapid diagnostic pregnancy test kits all over the country, M Ayyappan, CMD, HLL, said.