Superior Industries Posts 36% Profit Increase

Superior Industries International Inc., a Van Nuys supplier of aluminum car wheels, benefiting from strong demand for autos, reported earnings and sales gains for its third quarter and nine months ended Sept. 30.

In the September quarter, Superior had a profit of $12.6 million, a 36% increase from its $9.29 million in net income a year earlier. Its sales rose 30%, to $107.4 million from $82.8 million.

For the recent nine-month period, the company earned $40.6 million, up 24% from a $32.6-million profit a year before, while sales grew 16% to $334 million from $287.8 million.

Superior attributed the improved results to production remaining high at a time when auto assembly plants typically retool for new model changeovers.

But it noted that operating profits were squeezed somewhat by the start of production at its plant in Chihuahua, Mexico, and expansion of its Fayetteville, Ark., plant.