Profitable growth leveraging new product development and technological capabilities

「Net sales were ¥38.76 billion, up 20.9% year on year, due in part to increased demand for high-value-added products, particularly semiconductor- and electronic-component-related materials.」

「We obtained regulatory approval for the “Silk Elastin Sponge Wound Sheet for Skin Defect Wounds,” which uses the functional protein “silk elastin,” and began a company-sponsored clinical trial of “silk elastin for meniscal repair” under the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) Medical-Engineering Collaboration Innovation Promotion Project.」

「In the electrical and electronics-related industries, sales of electrolytes for aluminum electrolytic capacitors remained weak due to the delayed recovery of the EV market, but sales of related materials increased as the advanced semiconductor market remained firm, resulting in higher sales.」

「The research and development achievements of new businesses during the fiscal year were as follows. In the agricultural business, registration of the second peptide fertilizer was completed, and paid provision of 2 “peptide fertilizer” products began in Miyazaki Prefecture.」

「Operating income was ¥4.453 billion, up 120.5% year on year, due to the recovery in demand in the automotive and semiconductor industries, as well as improved profitability following the withdrawal from the businesses described above.」

「As a research and development achievement for the fiscal year, we conducted studies aimed at commercializing “peptide fertilizer” in cooperation with local residents at a research greenhouse in Shintomi, Miyazaki Prefecture, where we have entered into a collaboration agreement. After obtaining favorable data, we completed registration of the first peptide-containing material as a fertilizer. We also began providing services using “FlavoTone®,” an odor sensor developed by applying our expertise in surface chemistry and dispersion technology.」

「Key achievements included advancing development of a high-absorption type of the superabsorbent polymer “Sanwet” that contributes to resource conservation and reduces CO2 emissions throughout the product life cycle; successfully increasing the ratio of biomass-derived raw materials to 25% while maintaining absorption performance equivalent to that of petrochemical-derived products; and completing the assessment for ISCC Plus certification, widely adopted overseas, for biomass-derived polyethylene glycol (PEG), with sales targeted to begin in fiscal 2023.」

「In the information-related industries, office printing demand, which had declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, recovered. Sales of raw materials for polyester beads for polymerized toner and binders for pulverized toner both performed well, resulting in a substantial increase in sales. In the electrical and electronics-related industries, demand for materials for general-purpose resists declined as the semiconductor market slowed, but sales of photosensitive materials for advanced resists increased, while sales of electrolytes for aluminum electrolytic capacitors also increased substantially, resulting in strong sales.」

「In the information-related industries, office printing demand, which had declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, recovered. Sales of raw materials for polyester beads for polymerized toner and binders for pulverized toner both performed well, resulting in a substantial increase in sales.」

「In the petroleum and transportation equipment-related industries, materials for polyurethane foam used in automotive seats and other applications were weak, but urethane beads for automotive interior skin materials and lubricant additives performed well, resulting in a substantial increase in sales.」

「In the electrical and electronics-related industries, sales of resist materials for semiconductors increased substantially due to a sharp increase in semiconductor demand, while sales of display resins also increased substantially, and sales remained strong.」

「In the electrical and electronics-related industries, sales of resist materials for semiconductor memory compatible with 5G and resins for displays increased substantially, and sales remained strong.」

「Meanwhile, we worked to enhance corporate value and contribute to a sustainable society by shifting existing businesses toward higher-value-added products through greater customer-focused value creation; developing all-resin batteries with affiliated company APB Co., Ltd.; promoting new large-scale businesses in the biomedical, agrinutrition and cosmetics fields; forming alliances with external companies, including capital alliances with TBM Co., Ltd. and TM Factory Co., Ltd., and Pharma Foods International Co., Ltd.; and accelerating globalization through investments in new and expanded facilities in Thailand, South Korea and other locations.」

「In the plastics-related industries, sales of the core permanent antistatic agent business increased substantially as demand recovered and sales expansion into new applications progressed. However, sales of coating chemicals and additives, model materials for automotive applications, and resin modifiers used as paint binders remained weak, resulting in lower sales. In the electrical and electronics-related industries, sales of resist materials for semiconductor memory compatible with 5G and resins for displays increased substantially, and sales remained strong.」

「In the health-related industries, sales of the core superabsorbent polymer business declined due to product price revisions associated with falling raw material prices, despite strong demand in China. However, sales remained flat overall, partly because sales of disinfectants and other products increased. As a result, segment sales were ¥25.788 billion, down 2.8% year on year, while operating income was ¥1.54 billion, up 103.7%, due to improved profitability in the superabsorbent polymer business.」

「In the petroleum and transportation equipment-related industries, sales of lubricant additives remained flat, but the segment performed steadily as sales of urethane beads for automotive interior skin materials increased with the rise in vehicle models adopting high-performance products, while domestic sales of materials for polyurethane foam used in automotive seats and other applications were also strong.」

「In the petroleum and transportation equipment-related industries, sales of lubricant additives for the domestic market remained flat, while sales of urethane beads for automotive interior skin materials increased as the number of vehicle models adopting high-performance products rose. However, materials for polyurethane foam used in automotive seats and other applications remained weak due to deteriorating overseas market conditions, and the segment remained largely flat.」

「In terms of profit, operating income was ¥12.919 billion, up 7.7% from the previous fiscal year, mainly due to improved trading spreads, higher sales volumes of highly profitable products and other factors.」

「In terms of profit, operating income was ¥10.196 billion, up 8.3% year on year, ordinary income was ¥12.371 billion, up 10.7%, and net income attributable to owners of the parent was ¥9.148 billion, up 18.3%, mainly due to higher sales volumes of highly profitable products and other factors.」

「In the information-related industries, sales of binders for pulverized toner declined due to temporary inventory adjustments by customers, but sales increased substantially through expanded sales of new polyester beads for polymerized toner.」

「In the information-related industries, sales of binders for pulverized toner declined due to temporary inventory adjustments by customers, but sales increased substantially through expanded sales of new polyester beads for polymerized toner.」

「Key achievements included the adoption by overseas automakers of a new polyurethane bead product for automotive interior skin materials that enables weight reduction compared with conventional products; the development of a product combining an antioxidant with the “Sunflick FM Series” lubricity improver for diesel fuel; the launch of several viscosity-index improvers compliant with the “ILSAC GF-6” international standard for next-generation engine oils; and the adoption of a new viscosity-index improver for automatic transmission fluid applications by a Korean automaker.」

「Sales in the health-related industries increased, supported by growing overseas demand for superabsorbent polymers and the successful expansion of new product sales. Sales in the petroleum and transportation equipment-related industries increased substantially as sales expansion progressed significantly for high-performance urethane beads used in automotive interior skin materials and for lubricant additives in both domestic and overseas markets.」

「In the petroleum and transportation equipment-related industries, sales and profit increased substantially. Sales expansion of high-performance products progressed significantly for urethane beads used in automotive interior skin materials, materials for polyurethane foam used in automotive seats and other applications performed well, and sales expansion of lubricant additives progressed in both domestic and overseas markets.」

「Sales in the health-related industries remained strong, supported by growing overseas demand for superabsorbent polymers and the successful expansion of new product sales. In the petroleum and transportation equipment-related industries, sales and profit increased substantially as sales expansion progressed for high-performance urethane beads used in automotive interior skin materials and for lubricant additives in both domestic and overseas markets.」

「Sales in the petroleum and transportation equipment-related industries were weak. Although sales expansion progressed for urethane beads used in automotive interior skin materials, product prices were revised in line with falling raw material prices for polyurethane foam materials used in automotive seats and other applications, as well as for lubricant additives.」

「Sales in the petroleum and transportation equipment-related industries were weak. Although sales expansion progressed for urethane beads used in automotive interior skin materials, product prices were revised in line with falling raw material prices for polyurethane foam materials used in automotive seats and other applications, as well as for lubricant additives.」

「Sales in the information-related industries increased substantially, supported by a temporary increase in demand for polyester beads for polymerized toner and the successful launch of new products.」