Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) has reported a 134.6 per cent increase in net profit to Rs 775.71 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2003 as compared to Rs 330.62 crore for the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal. Net sales stood at Rs 14,259.45 crore as compared to Rs 13,573.51 crore, reporting a five per cent increase.

The companys net worth as on December 31, 2003 stood at Rs 7,827 crore as compared to Rs 6,679 crore as on March 31, 2003.

For the nine-month period ended December 31, 2003, the company reported a 52.44 per cent increase in net profit at Rs 1,376.89 crore as against Rs 903.24 crore for the corresponding previous quarter. Net sales for the nine-month period was Rs 41,272.72 crore as compared to Rs 38,786.91 crore for the nine-month period last year, registering a 6.41 per cent growth. The refining thruput for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2003 was 10.2 million tonne, an increase of eight per cent as compared to the corresponding previous nine-month period. The companys market share has gone up from 20.1 per cent to 20.48 per cent.