OMNI Industries is ramping up its export ambitions, targeting a bigger slice of regional sales after revealing plans to move into markets such as Nicaragua, Belize, and Barbados.

At its inaugural annual general meeting on Thursday, Managing Director Patrick Kumst said exports accounted for 14 per cent of revenues in 2024 but should climb to 20 per cent within two years as new partnerships and product lines come on stream. The company has already begun shipping to Guyana and is now working to cement its foothold in other high growth territories.

“These markets are not just about shipping product. We’re being selective, making sure the relationships and logistics are right and that we can meet demand consistently as we enter new markets,” Kumst told shareholders.

The export drive is being underpinned by heavy investment in manufacturing capacity. Since listing on the Junior Market last year, OMNI has poured $125 million from its initial public offering (IPO) proceeds into new machinery and operational upgrades, including two high efficiency injection moulding machines commissioned in late 2024. This year it added a $49-million Millikron 910, set to boost output of high demand items such as bread and beverage crates and laundry hampers.

Even with headwinds in its largest domestic segment — construction, which slipped 6 per cent last year — demand across other divisions held steady. Kumst said the company’s regional diversification will help buffer such fluctuations while giving Jamaican-made products greater visibility abroad.

For 2024, OMNI posted revenues of $1.92 billion, gross profit of $637 million, and net profit of $127 million, the latter trimmed by one-off IPO-related costs and capital investments. Liquidity improved to a current ratio of 2.32 to 1, while long-term debt fell by 20 per cent.

First quarter 2025 revenues came in at $471 million, down 22 per cent from a year earlier due to the absence of an extraordinary export order booked in early 2024. Net profit was $31 million, but the company managed to cut operating expenses by 11 per cent through cost control measures and efficiency gains.

Looking ahead, OMNI is keeping its growth targets under wraps but expects to sustain profitability while sharpening margins.

“The demand continues here in Jamaica and across the region. Our focus is to grow smart, strengthening the brand at home while building meaningful, lasting relationships in our export markets,” Kumst said.

Technicians at OMNI Industries position the newly installed $49‑million Milacron injection‑moulding machine at the company’s Spanish Town plant. The high‑efficiency equipment will boost production of high‑demand items as OMNI ramps up its regional export drive.