Taiyo Nippon Sanso (TNSC)’s sales for the second quarter of FY2017 was 305.714 billion up 13.7% of the previous same term, the core operating income of which was 29.3 billion up 13.8% and the operating income amounted to 29.6 billion up 14.1%. The net income stayed at a positive pace with 18.359 billion up 6.0%. Although the domestic gas business remained flat in the sales of oxygen and nitrogen, the sales of argon for silicon wafers grew well. The delivery of specialty gases for LCD and memory also increased.

In addition to the above, the price of carbon dioxide was revised and the increase in the import price raised the selling price of LPG. It made the sales amount to about 157.4 billion up 3.3% of the same term of last year, with the segment income of about 14.3 billion up 1.0%.

Regarding the industrial gas business in the US, the M&A effect from Air Liquide brought an addition of turnover amounting to about 13.2 billion and the carbon dioxide sold well in the field of bulk gases. On the other hand, the sales of electronics material gases amounted to about 3.9 billion down 15.4% of the same term of last year. They say it was attributed to the production system shifted to the Asian or other overseas countries. As a result, the sales in the overall regions amounted to 84.3 billion up 29.5% of the same term of last year with the segmental earnings remaining at about 6.4 billion up 35.4%.

A remarkable growth was seen in the Asian and Oceanian gas business. Like the business in the US, there was a noteworthy M&A effect of the Australian Supagas affiliated for consolidation in December 2016, which contributed to the increase of sales amount of about 5.4 billion. In addition, Australian Renegate which joined the group in July 2015 sold LPG well.

Furthermore in the electronics-related area, there was a satisfactory growth in the gas or gas-related construction business particularly in Taiwan, while the sales of hard goods to oil and gas consumers showed a dull move. Despite such negative factors the total sales grew well amounting to 49.5 billion up 31.2% with a remarkable segmental earning of 4.8 billion up 87.8%

Regarding the forecast of throughout the fiscal year, there was no change in the previous announcement, with a sales amount of 620 billion up 6.6% of last year and core operating profit of 56.5 billion up 3.2%, operating profit of 57 billion up 6.2% and a net income of 34.5 billion down 0.7%.

However, despite no change in the sum, the breakdown was much more adjusted than expected basing upon the segmental condition of each country as mentioned above. The total sales of the US industrial gas business amounted to about 164 billion which was less 2 billion than last announced, including the Asian and Oceanian gas business of about 91 billion up 2 billion from last.