Intensifying Competition in the Superabsorbent Resin Business
First written in FY2018. 9 of 21 entries say "Worsened", first in FY2019. Latest entry: 2026-05-13.
Sanyo Chemical Industries moved to the "Worse" side of this theme in 2018.
0 other companies' latest entry also says "Mitigated".
- 2026-05-13MitigatedEarnings
「Net sales declined due to the withdrawal from the superabsorbent polymer business and intensified competition from the influx of low-priced Chinese products. Profit increased due to strong performance in the semiconductor field, improved profitability following the withdrawal, greater efficiency across the entire supply chain and lower tax expenses resulting from additional recognition of deferred tax assets associated with the absorption merger of a subsidiary.」
The full-year results describe the decline in sales and improvement in profitability resulting from the withdrawal from the superabsorbent polymer business. - FY2025MitigatedAnnual report
「The business portfolio reforms aimed at shifting to high-value-added businesses, including the complete withdrawal from the superabsorbent polymer business, are progressing steadily.」
The company has completed its complete withdrawal from the superabsorbent polymer business, where intensifying competition and declining profitability had continued, moving its response to the risks from the implementation stage to the completion stage. - FY2025-H1MitigatedAnnual report
「In the Health Industry segment, sales declined substantially following the withdrawal from the superabsorbent polymer business. As a result, segment sales were ¥20.729 billion, down 12.5% year on year, while operating profit improved to ¥252 million from an operating loss of ¥973 million in the previous fiscal year.」
The withdrawal from the superabsorbent polymer business reduced sales, while the Health Industry segment improved from an operating loss in the previous fiscal year to operating profit. The response to deteriorating profitability caused by intensifying competition has materialised as business withdrawal and improved profitability. - FY2024WorsenedAnnual report
「The company decided to withdraw from the superabsorbent polymer business, whose earnings had remained sluggish due to commoditisation. It also decided to consider transferring all equity interests in its Chinese subsidiaries involved in the business and to begin dissolution procedures for subsidiaries in other regions.」
The company stated that intensifying competition, declining sales volumes and lower profitability in the superabsorbent polymer business led to the decision to withdraw from the business. - FY2024-Q3WorsenedAnnual report
「In the Health Industry segment, sales volumes of superabsorbent polymer declined in Japan and Asia, resulting in a substantial decrease in sales. As a result, segment sales were ¥35.356 billion, down 20.6% year on year, and the segment posted an operating loss of ¥1.111 billion, compared with operating profit of ¥305 million in the previous fiscal year.」
The decline in sales volumes of superabsorbent polymer spread to Japan and Asia, and the Health Industry segment moved from operating profit in the previous fiscal year to an operating loss. - FY2024-Q2WorsenedAnnual report
「In the Health Industry segment, sales volumes of superabsorbent polymer declined in Japan and Asia, resulting in lower sales. As a result, segment sales were ¥23.687 billion, down 20.2% year on year, and the segment posted an operating loss of ¥973 million, compared with operating profit of ¥413 million in the previous fiscal year.」
The decline in sales volumes of superabsorbent polymer spread to Japan and Asia, and the Health Industry segment moved from operating profit in the previous fiscal year to an operating loss. - FY2024-Q1WorsenedAnnual report
「In the Health Industry segment, sales volumes of superabsorbent polymer declined across Asia, including Japan and China. Although sales prices were revised in response to higher raw material and utility costs, sales declined substantially. As a result, segment sales were ¥11.278 billion, down 25.4% year on year, and the segment posted an operating loss of ¥586 million, compared with operating profit of ¥106 million in the previous fiscal year.」
The decline in sales volumes of superabsorbent polymer spread across Asia, including Japan and China, and the segment moved into an operating loss even after price revisions. - FY2023WorsenedAnnual report
「In the Health Industry segment, sales volumes of superabsorbent polymer declined at all locations. Although sales increased slightly following price revisions in response to higher raw material prices, operating profit declined substantially. As a result, segment sales were ¥57.068 billion, up 3.9% from the previous fiscal year, while operating profit was ¥113 million, down 94.2%.」
Sales volumes of superabsorbent polymer declined at all locations, and the company stated that operating profit in the Health Industry segment fell 94.2% year on year. - FY2023-Q3WorsenedAnnual report
「In the Health Industry segment, sales of superabsorbent polymer declined mainly in China, but sales increased slightly after prices were revised at all locations in response to surging raw material prices. As a result, segment sales were ¥44.544 billion, up 8.3% year on year, while operating profit was ¥347 million, down 77.5%, due in part to lower sales volumes of superabsorbent polymer.」
Sales volumes of superabsorbent polymer declined mainly in China. Although price revisions resulted in a slight increase in sales, segment operating profit fell 77.5% year on year, indicating a deterioration in the earnings environment. - FY2023-Q2WorsenedAnnual report
「In the Health Industry segment, sales of superabsorbent polymer declined mainly in China, but sales increased after prices were revised at all locations in response to surging raw material prices. As a result, segment sales were ¥29.699 billion, up 14.2% year on year, while operating profit was ¥450 million, down 31.5%, due in part to a narrower trading spread resulting from higher raw material prices.」
The company stated that sales of superabsorbent polymer, previously described as strong in the prior quarter, declined mainly in China, and that segment operating profit fell 31.5% year on year. - FY2023-Q1MitigatedAnnual report
「In the Health Industry segment, sales of superabsorbent polymer remained strong in China, the main market, and other Asian markets, resulting in a substantial increase in sales.」
The company reported a recovery from the previous sales slump, with superabsorbent polymer sales remaining strong in China and other Asian markets. - FY2022-Q3Sales recovery but deteriorating profitabilityAnnual report
「In the Health Industry segment, sales temporarily declined in the Chinese market, where superabsorbent polymer is the main product, due to customers' sharp production adjustments, but subsequently entered a recovery trend and segment sales remained flat. As a result, segment sales were ¥41.125 billion, up 3.1% year on year, while operating profit was ¥1.363 billion, down 43.0%.」
Sales of superabsorbent polymer temporarily declined due to production adjustments by Chinese customers and subsequently entered a recovery trend, while operating profit in the Health Industry segment fell 43.0% year on year. - FY2022-Q2WorsenedAnnual report
「In the Health Industry segment, sales temporarily declined in the Chinese market, where superabsorbent polymer is the main product, due to customers' sharp production adjustments. As a result, segment sales were ¥26.017 billion, up 0.9% year on year, while operating profit was ¥546 million, down 64.5%.」
The company stated that sales of superabsorbent polymer temporarily declined due to customers' sharp production adjustments, and operating profit in the Health Industry segment fell 64.5% year on year. The quarter saw deterioration in sales and profit, following the profitability improvement reported in the previous fiscal year. - FY2021MitigatedAnnual report
「In the Health Industry segment, sales of the core superabsorbent polymer product did not increase despite strong demand in China, due to product price revisions and other factors associated with falling raw material prices. However, sales remained flat as sales of disinfectants and other products increased. As a result, segment sales were ¥54.302 billion, up 1.1% from the previous fiscal year, while operating profit was ¥3.195 billion, up 100.9%, due to improved profitability of superabsorbent polymer.」
The company stated that although growth in sales of superabsorbent polymer remained sluggish, improved profitability resulted in a 100.9% year-on-year increase in operating profit in the Health Industry segment. - FY2021-Q3MitigatedAnnual report
「In the Health Industry segment, sales of the core superabsorbent polymer product did not increase despite strong demand in China, due to product price revisions and other factors associated with falling raw material prices. However, sales remained flat as sales of disinfectants and other products increased. As a result, segment sales were ¥39.901 billion, down 1.5% year on year, while operating profit was ¥2.393 billion, up 125.6%, due to improved profitability of superabsorbent polymer.」
The company stated that although growth in sales of superabsorbent polymer remained sluggish, improved profitability resulted in a 125.6% year-on-year increase in operating profit in the Health Industry segment. - FY2021-Q2MitigatedAnnual report
「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.」
The company stated that although sales of superabsorbent polymer continued to decline, strong demand in China and improved profitability resulted in a 103.7% year-on-year increase in segment operating profit. - FY2021-Q1MitigatedAnnual report
「In the Health Industry segment, sales increased as demand for disinfectants rose and sales of the core superabsorbent polymer product to customers remained strong. As a result, segment sales were ¥13.676 billion, up 6.8% year on year, and operating profit was ¥1.070 billion, up 515.7%.」
The company stated that sales of superabsorbent polymer, which had continued to decline substantially through the previous fiscal year, remained strong for customers, resulting in higher sales and operating profit in the Health Industry segment. - FY2020-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「In the Health Industry segment, sales of the core superabsorbent polymer product declined substantially, resulting in sluggish sales.」
The company continued to report the deteriorated conditions surrounding the substantial decline in sales of its core superabsorbent polymer product and sluggish sales. - FY2020-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「In the Health Industry segment, sales of the core superabsorbent polymer product declined substantially, resulting in sluggish sales.」
The company continued to report the deteriorated conditions surrounding the substantial decline in sales of its core superabsorbent polymer product and sluggish sales compared with the previous fiscal year. - FY2019WorsenedAnnual report
「In the Health Industry segment, sales of the core superabsorbent polymer product declined substantially, resulting in sluggish sales.」
The company stated that sales in the superabsorbent polymer business declined substantially, resulting in sluggish sales. The intensifying competition and deterioration in the earnings environment for the superabsorbent polymer business have materialised in its results. - FY2018MaterialisedAnnual report
「The external environment changed rapidly from when the management plan was formulated, due to factors including fluctuations in raw material prices and intensifying competition in the superabsorbent polymer business.」
The company cited intensifying competition in the superabsorbent polymer business as one factor behind ending the plan ahead of schedule and transitioning to a new plan.