Despite an increase in costs, Liverpool city region global metals and minerals inspection specialist Alex Stewart International grows staff numbers by 25% and sees profits rise 28% to £7.3m. Tony McDonough reports
Global metals and minerals inspection specialist Alex Stewart International (AS International) has reported big rises in revenues and pre-tax profits and has created a number of new jobs.
From its headquarters in Bootle, AS International oversees a global network of testing and analysis facilities in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Ecuador, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Peru, Thailand, UAE, Ukraine and the UK.
It offers commercial metal analysis for active mine production, including copper, lead and zinc as well as geochemical and environmental analysis for global and junior mining exploration companies, as well as mine audits for governments.
The firm’s accredited metal testing laboratory in Bootle can analyse non-ferrous and ferrous ores and concentrates, minor metals, precious and platinum group metals, ferro-alloys, recycled scrap metal, complex materials and plastics, fuels, agricultural and soft commodities and food products.
AS International, which was founded in 1978, has just posted its annual accounts, for the 12 months to December 28, 2024, on Companies House. They show a 14% rise in revenues to £23.7m and pre-tax profits up 28% to £7.3m. Employee numbers were also up 25% to 117.
In August the business opened a new laboratory in Gujarat in India. It will provide inspection, sampling and assaying of all metals, minerals & ores, solid fuels, agricultural products, vegetable oils, chemicals, crude oils, petroleum products and other bulk commodities.
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Writing in the annual report, AS International director and owner, Graham Stewart, said: “The company has continued to enjoy a period of growth in turnover.
“Foreign currency trends, in particular the US dollar, have been uncertain while unprecedented inflation and energy costs have challenged the company towards the end of the financial year.
“Administration costs have generally seen rises with large rises in wage costs as the number of employees has been increased during the year.”