India’s MRF Limited reports that its year-on-year net profit almost doubled in the three months to 31 March 2015. Net profit during the period amounted to Rs 3,326 million (£34.4 million), up 94.6 per cent on the Rs 1,709 million (£17.7 million) earned in the first three months of 2014. This huge jump in profit was achieved in spite of hefty competition from imported Chinese tyres, and was facilitated by much lower natural rubber prices – Mumbai-based stock and wealth trading company Angel Broking reports that MRF’s raw material costs declined from 65.7 per cent of sales in the second quarter of calendar year 2014 to 57.4 per cent of sales in the reporting period. Net income of Rs 33,120 million (£342.7 million) for the quarter was only 0.4 per cent higher than a year ago.