Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements l Note 18

18 Inventories     Group        Company    
      2017 
Rm
 
      2016 
Rm 
      2017 
Rm
 
      2016 
Rm 
  
      1 384        971        859        506    
Gross inventories     1 522        1 062        979        582    
Write-down of inventories to net realisable value     (138)       (91)       (120)       (76)   
Inventories consist of the following categories:     1 384        971        859        506    
Installation material, maintenance material and network equipment     620        436        405        250    
Merchandise     764        535        454        256    
Write-down of inventories to net realisable value     138        91        120        76    
Opening balance     91        92        76        92    
Acquisition of BCX             21                –    
Charged to selling, general and administrative expenses     67        54        47        (16)   
Inventories written off     (20)       (76)       (3)       –    

An estimated amount of R48 million (2016: R101 million) included in inventories will be used for Telkom's network expansion in the 2018 financial year, of which R48 million (2016: R83 million) was purchased in the current financial year.

The increase in inventories was mainly attributable to the increase in installation and maintenance and network equipment.

The increase in write-down of inventories is mainly due to higher obsolescence and slow moving stock.


Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements l Note 18