All segmental divisions of Iwatani enjoyed increases in sales. Except for the integrated energy business which suffered decreases of income due to the change in the import price of LPG, the operating income increased. The sales amount was up 13%, the operating income up 17.5%, the ordinary profit up 23.7% and the net profit of the term up 19.8%.

In the industrial gas and equipment business sales increased by 11.2% with operating income by 47.2%. In the industrial gas business, each of oxygen, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide and hydrogen grew in volume, excepting helium for which trading with other companies in the same industry was controlled. In terms of profits, there was a contribution by the increased sales in the related equipment business like anti-disaster gas facilities or semiconductor producing machines. In the LH2 business, Iwatani has been getting 10 new customers year after year, has got 96 cases now, and is planning to get 103 cases throughout the year.

Within November this year the expansion of Yamaguchi Liquid Hydrogen will be completed, which will be followed by the planned expansion of Hydro Edge. As for helium, an alternative transportation route was established as affected by the Qatar blockage. Although it does not obstruct the supply of helium, it is feared that there will be a hike of the transportation cost and worsening of operating condition of containers. Iwatani is planning to invest and promote sales to respond to the expanded demand in China and Southeast Asia.

The sales of the integrated Energy segment increased by 15.3% but the operating income decreased by 72.6%. The delivered volume of LPG was better than last year. The import price of propane turned out to be rising since July and recovery in the latter half of the year can be expected.

The sales of the Materials segment increased by 9% with the operating income up 54.2%. The result was attributed by the contribution of the increase in the import of biomass fuel (PKS) from Indonesia and Malaysia.

The PKS business is focused as a promising field for growth in future as it can come across the existing business territories dealt with by the industrial gases, the integrated energy and the material business fields, in line with the diffusion of the biomass power generation.
The natural capital business grew well with the increase of sales by 24.9% with the operating income up 43.8%. The frozen vegetables, the agricultural facilities and large-scale livestock equipment sold satisfactorily.

Regarding the development of hydrogen energy, Mitsuhiro Tanimoto president said, “Domestically there is a plan to develop hydrogen stations at 70 locations by 2020 as stated in the roadmap, and we wish to take up 30 locations out of them. In accordance with the scheme of joint company participated by 11 domestic companies, we intend to go ahead with the infrastructure business through the venture.”

Referring to the recent trend in which EV is apt to draw people’s attention, he commented “We think either EV or FCV is necessary as CO2-free mobility. In combination with renewable energies, hydrogen will surely show up as an active player in due course so we would like to take a steady stroke.” Regarding the overseas business, he showed his intention to explore business chances through the activities of the Hydrogen Council.

According to the forecast of full-year business, the sales is estimated to amount to 685 billion up 16.5% with the operating income of 25.1 billion up 0.2%, the ordinary profit of 26.1 billion down 2.7% and the net income for the term of 15.9 billion down 3.9%.