India's Dabur beats profit view on steady consumer goods demand

Nov 4 (Reuters) - India's Dabur DABU.NS reported a second-quarter profit above market expectations on Wednesday, as steady demand for personal care goods and packaged foods subdued the impact of rising raw material costs.

Here are more details:

• Dabur posted a profit of 5.06 billion rupees ($53.43 million) for the second quarter ended September 30, compared to 4.53 billion rupees a year earlier. Analysts had expected 4.98 billion rupees, according to data compiled by LSEG

• Total revenue rose 12% to 35.63 billion rupees

• Revenue from its mainstay consumer care business, home to Odomos mosquito repellent and Odonil air freshener brands, climbed 11% to 29.53 billion rupees

• Sales volume in Dabur's consumer goods business in India climbed 5.5%

• Industry bellwethers Hindustan Unilever HLL.NS and Nestle India NEST.NS also reported growth in quarterly sales volume even as they indicated commodity inflation could persist

• Dabur operated "in a challenging external environment marked by geopolitical uncertainty and elevated input-cost pressures," CEO Herjit Bhalla said, adding the group still recorded growth across categories

($1 = 94.7100 Indian rupees)