As the import price of LP gas stayed at a high level throughout the term and each segment well coped with the rising market, Iwatani increased the sale revenue in all segments by 31.3%.

In terms of profit, the LP gas market factor caused a negative effect in the amount of less 11.1 billion yen than last year with a flat movement in the operating profit, with the ordinary profit up 1.3% and the net profit for the term up 6.9%. Disregarding the market factor Iwatani would have attained the record-high sales and profit level. The end-term dividend is 95 yen with an increase by 10 yen. In this term the same dividend is expected to be retained.

In the Industrial Gases and Machinery business, the sales increased by 30.4% with the operating income up 32.8%. The sales in volume of air separation gases declined in the field of electronics parts, but the stable supply of helium and the growth of liquid hydrogen business contributed to the increased the total performance. In the machinery and equipment related business, there was a good growth in the fields related to semiconductors and gas supply facilities. Regarding the price revision following the fare hike of electricity, President Hiroshi Majima spoke about his positive feeling in response to the demand for hydrogen/ammonia energy saying, “We are going to nearly complete our planned scheme at the end of March 2023. In 2023 we make up for the increased portion caused by the time lag. There are increasing users who adopt liquid hydrogen for verification in the midst of the movement toward decarbonization, while enquiries for ammonia are increasing. We do wish that such movements will pile up as actual results in 2023.”

In the Integrated Energy business, the sales increased by 20.3% with the operating profit down 36.3%. As aforementioned, it was attributed to the lasting high import price of LP gas. Although the increase in the sold volume brought an increase sales revenue, the market factor affected profitability.
In the Materials business the sales increased by 57.9% with the operating profit up 72.8%. As the market of the secondary material for battery like lithium and cobalt was active and sales to new customers remained on the increase, the items handled stayed almost stable. In terms of business scale, this field became close to those of Industrial Gases and Machinery.

In the Agri-bio and Foods business, the sales increased by 24% with the operating profit down 16%. Although there was an increase in the sales of frozen food, the negative profitability was attributed to the price-hike of feed and the decreased number of delivered sow.

　Regarding the forecast of this fiscal term, sales will remain at a flat level amounting to 907 billion yen with an operating profit up 12.4% amounting to 45 billion yen, ordinary profit up 7% amounting to 50.3 billion and a net profit for the term attributable to the owners of parent company up 4.6% amounting to 33.5 billion yen.

The forecast of flat-going sales is on the ground that the rise in the price of resources has calmed down because the sales of Materials business will drop to about 22.2 billion yen which is 9.2% less than the previous year. In terms of profitability, an increase is forecasted regardless of the market factor of LP gas.

　For reference, this financial year falls on the last of the ongoing Midterm PLAN 23. The company already accomplished the target of ROE and the ordinary income one year earlier than the plan. Based on the accomplishment, President Majima said, “We are on the way to make out our new mid-term plan of five years until 2027 and wish to officially announce to the public in coming June or so.”