The three major aluminum rolling companies achieved revenue and profit growth in the April–September period. The recovery in domestic demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment and rising aluminum ingot prices generated inventory valuation gains, and all three companies also revised their full-year forecasts upward.
The financial results for the April–September 2026 period were released for all three major aluminum rolling companies. Strong demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment and data centers resulted in revenue and profit growth across all companies. The surge in aluminum ingot prices also had an impact, generating inventory valuation gains and prompting upward revisions to full-year forecasts.
In the first half, aluminum sheet sales volumes were 671,000 tonnes for UACJ, 138,000 tonnes for Kobe Steel's aluminum sheet business and 33,500 tonnes for Nippon Light Metal Holdings. Sales volumes increased at each company as the demand environment improved.
Demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment and data centers was strong. UACJ saw an increase in exports of can stock to Europe, while Nippon Light Metal Holdings recorded growth in lithium-ion battery case materials for export markets. Higher ingot prices also contributed to earnings, with a positive contribution of ¥28.6 billion year on year for UACJ and approximately ¥4.5 billion for Kobe Steel's aluminum sheet business. Nippon Light Metal Holdings recorded gains on price differences in its light-gauge rolling business and other operations, although the article is cut off midway.