Taiyo Nippon Sanso is vigorously expanding all of its businesses overseas. The moving of its medical business into the overseas area is especially worthy of note as of this time. In March of last year, it brought its home oxygen therapy (HOT) business into Shanghai, taking the lead over other domestic gas producers. Regarding this business after a year in operation, a spokesman for the company noted, “The number of HOT patients is just simply increasing because it is partially covered by insurance. For us to expand sales of our concentrators in this area where getting them to spread in use is so hard, we plan to act aggressively by attaching them to FRP cylinders. The direction of our business there is clearly evident.”

They use FRP cylinders made by Chinese producers, while filling facilities produced by Taiyo Nippon Sanso have been put into operation in Shanghai. Sales of oxygen are clearly seen as expanding.

“We have expectations that insurance will cover HOT in Chinese municipal areas, such as Beijing. We are promoting the convenience of portable cylinders among physicians to help in expanding areas where insurance covers this, including the part of areas in Shanghai. We would like to sell them constantly until medical compensation covers them.” An affiliate in Shanghai is getting numerous inquiries for oxygen for medical use. As of next year they will begin full scale sales of liquid oxygen to hospitals. In addition, in the medical field, overseas sales of the Water -18O stable isotope which has the largest volume in terms of production in Japan are doing well.

Taiyo Nippon Sanso on its own accounts for JPY10 billion for its medical business and including the 2 group companies JPY20 billion.