DuPont Profit Rises 27% in Year Despite Soft Demand

DuPont Co. said its net income for 1984 was up 27% despite a 10% decline in the fourth quarter. The company said the higher annual results came despite reduced demand for its products. That was offset by cost reduction and efficiency-improvement programs, the company said.

DuPont said its domestic apparel fibers markets were particularly hard hit in 1984 because of sharply higher imports of textiles and apparel. Income for the company’s industrial and specialty businesses was up 28%, DuPont said.

Energy businesses, meanwhile, showed a 17% gain in operating income, reflecting a “substantial increase” in earnings from petroleum exploration and production, the Wilmington, Del.-based company said.