# Finance costs – net

Finance costs increased by approximately RMB0.1 million, or 11.8%, from approximately RMB1.1 million for 6M2018 to approximately RMB1.2 million for 6M2019 primarily due to the increase in bank borrowings drawn in 6M2019.

# Income tax expense

Our income tax expense increased by approximately RMB1.1 million, or 15.8%, from approximately RMB6.7 million for 6M2018 to approximately RMB7.7 million for 6M2019 primarily due to the increase in Listing expenses incurred from nil for 6M2018 to approximately RMB6.4 million for 6M2019, which was not deductible for tax purpose. For further details, please refer to the paragraph headed “Selected items of consolidated statements of comprehensive income— Income tax expense” in this section.

# Profit for the year

As a result of the foregoing, our profit for the period decreased by approximately RMB3.3 million, or approximately 16.5%, from approximately RMB19.8 million for 6M2018 to approximately RMB16.5 million for 6M2019.

# FY2018 compared to FY2017

# Revenue

Our revenue increased by approximately RMB155.5 million, or 52.1%, from approximately RMB298.7 million for FY2017 to approximately RMB454.2 million for FY2018. This increase was primarily due to the combined effect of the increase in both the sales volume and average selling price of all our PHC pile and commercial concrete products as a result of the increased market demand. The increases were primarily driven by the growth in the construction industry in Jiangsu Province and the increased demand from our customers for the development of residential and commercial projects in Qidong City.

• PHC pile. Our revenue from sales of PHC pile increased from approximately RMB158.6 million in FY2017 and to approximately RMB230.9 million in FY2018. The increase in revenue from sales of PHC pile for FY2018 of approximately RMB72.3 million, or 45.6% was primarily due to the increase in sales volume of our PHC pile.

We sold approximately 1.1 million metres and 1.2 million metres of PHC pile for FY2017 and FY2018, respectively. The increase in sales volume was primarily due to the increase in sales volume of grade 500 PHC pile as a result of the new orders from Customer N (one of our ten largest customers in FY2018) of approximately 61,000 metres combined with the increase sales volume of grade 600 PHC pile as a result of the additional orders in FY2018 from Customer G (one of our five largest customers in FY2017 and FY2018) of approximately 36,000 metres. The increase was partially offset by the decrease in sales volume of grade 400 PHC pile as we tend to focus on the production of grade 500 PHC pile and grade 600 PHC pile which are of relatively higher strength as compared to grade 400 PHC pile.

• Square pile. Our revenue from sales of square pile increased from approximately RMB0.2 million in FY2017 to approximately RMB2.4 million in FY2018. The increase in revenue from sales of square pile for FY2018 of approximately RMB2.2 million, or 1,182.8%, was primarily due to the increase in sales volume of our square pile.

We sold approximately 2,000 metres and 15,000 metres of square pile for FY2017 and FY2018, respectively. The increase in sales volume was primarily due to increase in sales volume of our square pile as a result of new orders from Customer R of approximately 11,000 metres in FY2018.

• Commercial concrete. Our revenue from sales of commercial concrete increased from approximately RMB139.9 million in FY2017 to approximately RMB220.9 million in FY2018. The increase in revenue from sales of commercial concrete for FY2018 of approximately RMB81.0 million, or 57.9% was primarily due to the increase in sales volume of our commercial concrete.

We sold approximately 0.4 million m3 and 0.5 million m3 of commercial concrete for FY2017 and FY2018, respectively. The increase in sales volume was primarily due to the increase in sales volume of grade C10-C25 commercial concrete as a result of the new orders in FY2018 from Customer K (one of our five largest customers in FY2018) of approximately 63,000 m3.

# Cost of sales

Our cost of sales increased by approximately RMB127.8 million, or 51.7%, from approximately RMB247.0 million for FY2017 to approximately RMB374.7 million for FY2018 primarily due to the combined effect of the increase in sales volume of both our PHC pile and commercial concrete products. The increase was generally in line with the growth of revenue for FY2018.

# Gross profit and gross profit margin

As a result of the foregoing, our gross profit increased by approximately RMB27.8 million, or 53.7%, from approximately RMB51.7 million for FY2017 to approximately RMB79.5 million for FY2018. Our gross profit margin remained relatively stable at approximately 17.3% and 17.5% for FY2017 and FY2018.

• PHC piles. Gross profit margin of PHC pile increased from approximately 14.4% for FY2017 to approximately 18.1% for FY2018. The increase in gross profit margin of PHC pile was primarily due to the increase in average selling price of the product increased at a faster rate than the cost of sales as a result of our pricing strategy. The strong pricing power we enjoyed was primarily due to the highly concentrated market landscape for PHC pile in Nantong. According to the F&S Report, the PHC pile industry in Nantong was very concentrated with only four PHC pile manufacturers and our Group had a market share of approximately 7.1% in Nantong in terms of PHC pile production volume in 2018.