Expanding demand for automotive equipment, wearables, IoT, and medical devices

「Although sales of FPCs (Note 3) to display manufacturers declined, sales increased as a result of higher orders for mass-production projects and other products for set manufacturers (Note 4), including camera, medical equipment and industrial equipment manufacturers. Consequently, net sales increased to ¥1,323 million, up 14.1% year on year, and segment profit increased to ¥295 million, up 38.7%.」

「Although the domestic EV market remained weak, the industry as a whole continued to perform solidly due to replacement demand for PCs following the end of OS support, the wider use of generative AI, increased data center demand and a recovery in demand for high-end smartphones.」

「The printed circuit board industry (Note 1) in which our Group operates saw stagnant demand for industrial equipment and automotive applications, including prolonged inventory adjustments. However, demand for data centers remained solid against a backdrop of expanding generative AI-related demand, resulting in a bifurcation in demand trends following inventory adjustments stemming from the special demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.」

「Although demand for servers for data centers and consumer PCs increased amid the expansion of the generative AI-related market, the electronic circuit board industry in which our Group operates performed weakly because demand for high-function automotive products remained sluggish due to the slowdown in the global EV market and automobile production cuts resulting from the impact of misconduct issues and other factors, as well as weak demand for consumer products such as smartphones.」

「Demand for high-performance products for EVs and advanced driver-assistance systems remained solid, although」

「Demand for automotive products, particularly EVs and advanced driver assistance systems, drove the market, and performance remained solid.」

「Although demand for consumer products such as smartphones and PCs and for data center products remained weak, the electronic circuit board industry in which our Group operates continued to perform solidly, driven by demand for automotive applications, particularly EVs and driver assistance systems, as the prolonged shortage of electronic components showed signs of recovery.」

「Although demand for consumer products such as smartphones and PCs remained weak following the reversal of stay-at-home demand, the electronic circuit board industry in which our Group operates continued to perform solidly, with new factories being built in Southeast Asia to meet strong demand in growth areas such as 5G, EVs and autonomous driving.」

「The electronic circuit board industry in which our Group operates maintained solid performance as supply chains normalized and demand recovered following the phased lifting of lockdowns in China, while demand for semiconductor package substrates and power module substrates in growth fields such as communications devices, EVs and industrial equipment remained high. In addition, successive plans were announced for higher functionality, including high-density multilayer substrates, active materials development and expanded production capacity.」

「The electronic circuit board industry in which our Group operates continued to perform solidly as demand for semiconductor package substrates and power module substrates in growth fields such as 5G, EVs and industrial equipment remained high and continued to drive the market. Semiconductor-related manufacturers actively pursued higher functionality, including high-density multilayer substrates, development of low-transmission-loss substrate materials, and expansion of production capacity.」

「Although the effects of difficulties in procuring materials and logistics disruptions remained, demand for semiconductor package substrates and power module substrates in growth fields such as 5G, EVs and industrial equipment remained solid. In addition, amid heightened expectations for growth in metaverse (virtual space)-related markets and rising demand for faster, higher-performance data transmission, companies pursued advanced functionality, including high-density multilayer substrates, as well as active development of low-transmission-loss substrate materials and capital investment.」

「The electronic circuit board industry in which our Group operates was buoyant as intensifying global supply-demand tightness for semiconductors used in 5G communications and EVs accelerated the strengthening of production capacity, particularly among manufacturers of large package substrates. Manufacturers, including production equipment and materials companies, advanced development aimed at new market entry and further miniaturization.」

「The electronic circuit board industry in which our Group operates continued to perform solidly as demand remained high for high-performance package substrates carrying CPUs, AI chips and other components for PCs and servers, as well as large package substrates for automotive applications amid the full-scale recovery of global automobile production. Manufacturers, including production equipment and materials companies, advanced large-scale capital investment plans.」

「The electronic circuit board industry in which our Group operates continued to perform solidly, driven by increased demand for semiconductor package substrates for PCs and servers as DX progressed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and for power module substrates as the EV market expanded, amid the spread of 5G-enabled IoT products. Capital investment to expand production lines and development of substrates using next-generation materials became more active.」

「Demand for semiconductor package substrates used in base stations and data center servers increased due to the development of 5G infrastructure and the spread of remote work, while signs of recovery in the automotive sector, particularly in China, became more pronounced. However, the recovery was not sufficient to offset the significant decline in the first half of the previous year.」

「Although demand for data centers and servers increased due to the development of 5G (next-generation communications standard) infrastructure and the spread of remote work accompanying the COVID-19 pandemic, and demand in the key automotive market also began to recover, a full-scale recovery was not achieved due to the prolonged US-China trade tensions and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.」

「Although the electronic circuit board industry in which our Group operates was expected to benefit from expanding new business opportunities through the full-scale adoption of 5G (next-generation communications standards), production and sales activity stagnated due to the impact of US-China trade tensions and the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.」

「Although the electronic circuit board industry in which our Group operates had been expected to see steady demand growth from expanding business opportunities driven by the full-scale adoption of 5G (next-generation communications standards) and the expanding market for high-value-added automotive equipment, many factories in China suspended operations due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and production and consumption activity continued to stagnate worldwide.」

「Ahead of the full-scale launch of the 5G (next-generation communications standard) market, demand is expected not only for smartphones but also for the use of IoT and AI as new social infrastructure.」

「Although concerns remain over the impact on personal consumption following the consumption tax increase, demand growth is expected for smartphones entering a replacement-demand cycle and in fields where the use of IoT and AI is expected to advance as infrastructure is developed for the practical application of next-generation communications standards.」

「Automotive equipment provided support as the vehicle electrification rate rose, and demand growth is expected in fields with future growth potential, including automation and labor-saving technologies and the advancing use of IoT and AI enabled by the practical application of next-generation communications standards.」

「The functionality and number of components installed in automotive equipment continued to increase as vehicle electrification progressed, and demand remained solid. In addition, the shift toward greater use of electronics is expected to accelerate further through the use of IoT and AI, while the practical application of next-generation communications standards is expected to significantly boost demand across all fields.」

「Although the smartphone market showed signs of sluggish growth due to longer replacement cycles, the number of electronic components installed in automotive equipment increased dramatically as the vehicle electrification rate rose, providing support for demand. In addition, initiatives became more active across all fields, including consumer, medical and infrastructure applications, as the use of IoT and AI progressed toward the practical application of next-generation communications standards.」

「Although sales to display and camera manufacturers declined, revenue increased as sales to medical equipment manufacturers and other set makers rose due to higher orders for mass-production projects and high-difficulty products. Profit increased as the gross profit margin improved through cost reductions, including restrained capital investment and the in-house processing of work previously outsourced. As a result, sales revenue was ¥1,973 million, up 2.7% year on year, and segment profit was ¥301 million, up 15.9%.」

「Demand for automotive equipment remained solid as the vehicle electrification rate rose through the expansion of autonomous driving functions and measures to reduce CO₂, against a backdrop of growing social needs for automobile safety and environmental protection. In addition, the creation of demand for new devices led the market as the use of IoT, artificial intelligence (AI) and big data accelerated.」

「Demand for automotive equipment remained solid due to the growing social need for automobile safety and the rapid spread of advanced driver assistance systems. In addition, the creation of demand for new devices driven by the advancement of IoT-related products led the market.」

「The electronic circuit board industry in which our Group operates was driven by the smartphone market as product performance continued to improve, while demand for automotive equipment and other applications remained solid as automobile electrification progressed. In addition, further market growth is expected from the full-scale adoption of organic EL panels in smartphones and televisions and the expansion of the sensing device market oriented toward IoT (Internet of Things) applications.」

「The electronic circuit board industry in which our Group operates maintained solid demand for automotive equipment, driven by automobile electrification, and for smartphones as their performance continued to improve. In addition, the full-scale adoption of organic EL panels in smartphones and televisions, which offer a high degree of design flexibility and are expected to be used in various fields, began, while practical applications accelerated for wearable equipment, including emerging uses such as head-mounted displays, and medical equipment, indicating that the market is beginning to gain momentum.」

「Demand from Chinese smartphone manufacturers, whose presence in the global market is increasing as their products become more sophisticated, and for automotive equipment, against a backdrop of automobile electrification, remained solid. In addition, practical applications accelerated in the wearable equipment and medical equipment markets, where new uses such as head-mounted displays are emerging, while development of IoT (Internet of Things) technologies and products progressed across industry boundaries, leading to expectations for further market growth.」

「Demand for automotive equipment remained solid against a backdrop of progress in vehicle electrification to ensure automobile safety and convenience. In addition, competition in the development of medical and wearable equipment markets accelerated, while development of IoT (Internet of Things) technologies and products progressed across industry boundaries, leading to expectations for further market growth.」

「Demand for automotive equipment, driven by the electrification of automobiles, remained solid in the electronic circuit board industry in which our Group operates. In addition, the development of IoT (Internet of Things) technologies and products is progressing across industry boundaries, and further market growth is expected alongside new markets for wearable and medical equipment.」

「Meanwhile, demand for automotive equipment, underpinned by the accelerating electrification of automobiles, remained solid, and development for wearable devices, IoT (Internet of Things) products and medical equipment became more active.」