Pune-based Bajaj Auto Ltd has registered a decline of 45% in its standalone net profit, which remained at Rs 772 crore for the three month period ended March 31, 2012.

Country’s second-largest two-wheeler firm had recorded a net profit of Rs 1,400 crore in the corresponding period of last year.

Financials were not purely comparable owing to an exceptional item of Rs 826 crore in the same period of last year that encouraged the nation’s net profit.

PAT before exceptional items remained up by 12% to Rs 759 crore as against Rs 676 crore in the same quarter last year.

Bajaj Auto maintained its industry-leading profit margins in the quarterly period owing to an augmentation in exports and steady raw material costs.

Rajiv Bajaj, managing director, Bajaj Auto stated, “Exports now account for 36 per cent of our overall volumes. Revenues from sales in overseas markets have gone up 40 per cent during the quarter. We would continue our efforts to step up presence overseas and gain a larger share of the motorcycle market globally.”

But, the company failed to meet up the street anticipations by a small margin, as brokerages chasing the firm were anticipating net profit to be in the bracket of Rs 785-792 crore.

Passive growth in India impacted the company’s total sales volume that settled at 1,017,167 units.

The company’s Ebitda remained at 20.7% during the period under review.

Motorcycle sales in India during January-March period stayed flat at 616,516 units as compared to 617,255 units sold during the corresponding quarter of 2011.

Company’s net sales climbed up to Rs 4,515 crore during the quarter, a growth of 12% over Rs 4,030 crore in the corresponding period last year.

In addition, the company is optimistic of upholding its market position in the exiting financial year as it proposes to roll out a novel line of products.

The company, which sold 38,34,405 motorcycles, domestic and exports in fiscal 2012, is eyeing to market 50 lakh units for fiscal 2013 on account of new launches and strong export plan.