OREANDA-NEWS. Suzuki Motor Corp. said its net profit rose 19.2% in the April-December period, as solid sales in Asia and the weakening yen helped improve its bottom line.

Yet Suzuki kept its net profit outlook at 70 billion yen for the current fiscal year through March, unchanged from its previous forecast. The small car manufacturing specialist has said it is narrowing its focus to fast growing Asian markets including India, where Suzuki enjoys the highest market share.

The company on Wednesday outlined a plan to restart local production in Myanmar after a two-year suspension, eyeing this untapped Asian market as another potential source of growth.

Suzuki posted a net profit of JPY 48.43 billion in the nine months ended December, up from JPY 40.62 billion in the same period a year earlier.

Sales in the April-December period were almost unchanged at JPY 1.82 trillion from Y1.80 trillion the year before.