Iwatani remains at a steady pace marking increases in its total sales by 7.7%, operating income by 16.7%, ordinary income by 18.6% and net income by 100.1% for the 3rd quarter of fiscal year.

Iwatani handling total energy as its core business marked a growth of 6.5% in revenue. Although there was a slight drop in the quantity sold of LPG for household use due to the disasters caused by the Earthquake, the average price of import turned out to be higher, compared with the year-earlier period with the consequent rise in the price. In respect of the profit, however, it turned out to decline since last May when the import price of LPG had reached the peak at a highest-ever level. With the relatively high-priced inventory, the company suffered a profit decline of 206% accordingly.

In the segment of industrial gases and welding, sales increased by 6.7% and operating income by 14.6%. The sales of oxygen, nitrogen and argon gases decreased, and the carbon dioxide/dry ice business was dull due to the tight supply during the summer season, while there was a growth in the helium and liquid hydrogen business. In the gas-related equipment business, sales increased owing to a large-scale project for overseas customers and the restoration-related demand after the Earthquake. Sales of the segment on a full-year basis is estimated to increase by 3.8% amounting to 127 billion yen and the operating income by 6.5% amounting to 4.8 billion yen.

Among the other segments of business, electronics and machinery increased by 18.6% in sales and 384.6% in operating income, while the materials business increase by 19.9% in sales and 115.9% in operating income. The agri-bio and food business increased by 6.8% in sales and 10.2% in operating income.

As previously forecast, the total corporate sales throughout the fiscal year is estimated to increase by 6.2% amounting to 657 billion yen, operating income by 11% to 16.5 billion yen, ordinary income by 3.9% to 16.2 billion yen and net income for the year by 13% valued at 7 billion yen.