The manufacturers of tractors and construction equipment, Escorts Ltd reported a 21.2 per cent increase in sales during the quarter ended December 31, 2009.

The company follows an October-September accounting year.

The company announced that it sold 13,561 tractors in the first quarter, as against 10,135 in the same period last year.

Mr. Rajan Nanda, chairman and managing director of the firm said, "The agri-machinery division revenue grew by 22.5 per cent riding on market share gains by the new range of higher horse power tractors introduced last fiscal and a concerted push in designated markets."

The railway division of the company recorded an increase of 17.6 per cent with a faster 22.5 per cent growth in its agricultural machinery division.

Net sales for the quarter stood at Rs 600.22 crore as against Rs 495.26 crore in corresponding period in 2008-09.

In a complete turn around, the company reported a net profit of Rs 23.4 crore this quarter against a loss of Rs 34 lakh in the year-ago period.