Concentration of management resources in growth sectors and development of new products and businesses

「As part of its efforts to expand its handling of low-environmental-impact resins under its decarbonization strategy, biomass PP resin, for which the company began import sales, was adopted as packaging material by a major Japanese cosmetics manufacturer. This PP resin is manufactured from non-fossil biomass feedstock and is the only such product in the world. The company aims to expand its adoption in the Japanese market.」

「To secure a stable supply of critical mineral resources, the company established the joint venture Nichi-Futsu Rare Earth Co., Ltd. with JOGMEC and entered into an investment agreement with a French company that produces rare earths, a scarce resource.」

「The Materials business saw stronger sales of molded products for air conditioners and consumer resin products. Mineral sands production at the company’s own mines in Australia remained solid, while sales volume increased both in Japan and overseas. Stainless steel and secondary battery materials for next-generation vehicles were weak due to falling market prices and the impact of inventory adjustments by customers.」

「Biomass fuel, PET resin for beverage bottles, and functional films for smartphones performed strongly, while the overseas mineral sands business grew. Metal-processed products, mainly stainless steel and products for air conditioners and automotive parts, also remained solid.」

「In addition to increased sales of biomass fuel and PET resin for beverage bottles, the overseas mineral sands business grew. Metal-processed products, mainly stainless steel and products for air conditioners, also remained solid.」

「Environmental products such as secondary battery materials for next-generation vehicles, low-environmental-impact PET resin, and biomass fuel performed strongly.」

「In the Materials business, the company secured an interest in a new mining area in Norway for titanium ore, a scarce resource, and sought to strengthen its stable supply structure by diversifying its procurement sources.」

「The Materials business saw stronger sales of environmental products such as low-environmental-impact PET resin, biomass fuel, and secondary battery materials.」

「The Materials business saw stronger sales of environmental products such as low-environmental-impact PET resin, biomass fuel, and secondary battery materials. Sales of metal-processed products also increased, mainly for air conditioners.」

「In addition to increased sales of environmental products such as biomass fuel (PKS) and low-environmental-impact PET resin, sales of consumer resin products grew.」

「Sales of metal-processed products for air conditioners declined, but sales of biomass fuel (PKS) and low-environmental-impact PET resin increased, while consumer resin products such as GURULABO and I-wrap performed well. Sales of secondary battery materials declined due to lower market prices, although sales volume increased.」

「In addition, sales of low-environmental-impact PET resin and functional films increased.」

「In addition to expanding sales of environmental products and other growth fields and developing new products, we are working to strengthen our overseas business and expand the scale of our operations.」

「In the materials business, the scale of operations in the biomass, environmentally friendly PET resin raw materials and secondary-battery materials businesses, which we are prioritizing as growth businesses, is steadily expanding. In fiscal 2018, combined sales exceeded ¥20 billion. We will continue to expand sales toward achieving PLAN20's target of ¥30 billion in business scale.」

「In the materials business, earnings expanded as sales of titanium, zircon and other products increased and resource market prices rose. Although sales of functional films declined, sales of environmentally friendly PET resin raw materials and secondary-battery materials grew significantly.」

「In the materials business, earnings expanded as resource market prices, including those for titanium and zircon, rose and sales increased. Although sales of functional films declined, sales of PET resin raw materials, secondary-battery materials and stainless steel increased.」

「In the materials business, we will work to establish an earnings base for businesses expected to grow, including biomass fuels, aluminum, bio-PET resin and secondary-battery materials, strengthen our overseas business and expand the scale of our operations.」

「Sales of PET resin raw materials, biomass fuels and secondary-battery materials also increased.」

「Sales of biomass fuels and PET resin raw materials also increased, expanding earnings.」

「In the materials business, we will work to strengthen the earnings base of existing businesses while promoting businesses expected to grow, such as biomass fuels, bio-PET resin and nanonickel. We will also develop new businesses and products and work to expand the scale of our operations.」

「In the materials business, sales of PET resin raw materials increased, mainly to new major customers, while the profitability of stainless steel and aluminum improved.」

「In the environment, automotive and electronics fields, where high growth is expected, we will concentrate management resources on businesses and products that capitalize on our strengths, such as biomass fuels, functional resins and secondary-battery-related products, and work to establish a stable earnings base through the development of new products and businesses.」