May 6: First-quarter pre-tax profit in the canmaking division of Silgan — the leading specialised food can manufacturer in North America — almost doubled as a result of improved margins, despite only a slight increase in sales.
Sector sales rose by just under one percent to US$375m but an improved operating margin – from 7.2 percent to 12.4 percent – increased pre-tax income by 74 percent to $46.4m.
