Omnia profit drops on tough market

South African diversified chemicals maker Omnia Holdings’ full-year profit dropped 7 percent as a tough economic environment hit its mining and chemicals divisions, the company said on Tuesday.

Headline earnings per share (EPS), the main profit measure in South Africa that strips out certain one-off items, fell to 881 cents for the year ended March 31 from 944 cents in the previous period.

The fertiliser, chemicals and mining explosives maker said its profit after tax was down 8 per cent to 592 million rand ($46 million) following lower operating profit.