Hindustan Lever Ltd. profit for second quarter of 1999 were up by 25 per cent to Rs.227 crore, compared to that of Rs.181 crore in the second quarter in 1998. During the first half of 1999, net profits were Rs.440 crore compared to Rs.353 crore during the same period in 1998. The HLL board declared an interim dividend of Rs.12 per share.

Hindustan Lever's economic value added for half year ended 1999 stood at Rs.265 crore.

The company will be patenting the process of manufacturing Kissan Annapurna salt in 120 countries. The company contends that when the salt is added while cooking, the content of iodine does not change and that in other iodised salt brands, the iodine vanishes.

HLL plans to export the product through its global distribution network. Kissan salt is priced at Rs.22 per kg.