Showa Denko showed increases in its sales by 16.3%, operating income by 85%, ordinary profit by 65.3% and net profit for the year by 172% marked record-high increases in profits throughout the FY2017 (Jan. to Dec.), owing to such growing business categories as semiconductor gas and graphite electrode.

The year-end dividend was resolved as 50 yen with an addition of 20 yen. All the segments accomplished growth in sales and profit. Above all, the increased quantity and the improved Chinese market contributed greatly in the inorganic segment of graphite electrode business.

The increased sales of semiconductor gas also brought a great effect thanks to the start of mass-production of 3DNAND. President Kohei Morikawa said in the interview, “This demand of devices mainly for AI and data centers is anticipated to keep growing at a skyrocketing pace, and there has already been a tightening mood of demand and supply in the field of etching gases. We intend to proceed with investments to enhance our supplying power in the vicinity of the demanding place from now on.” In the electronics material gas business there was an accomplishment exceeding the target up 20% over the result in the previous year. They also expect an increase of 15% amounting to JPY40 billion in FY2018.

Looking over the successful activities of all other segments, the chemical products including electronics gases and industrial gases were sold 10.6% more with the operating income up19.2%. In the fiscal term SDK established an affiliate to distribute electronics gases in Texas, USA and also Showa Denko Gas Products started construction of LCO2 gas plant (15,000 ton per annum) in Oita for completion within 2018.

In the petrochemical segment, sales increased by 35.2% with the operating income up 61.2%. In the electronics segment, sales increased by 2.2% with the operating income up 46%. In the inorganic segment, sales increased by 44.4% with the operating income amounting ultimately to JPY7.089 billion which turned from the operating loss of JPY5.758 billion in the previous term (because of JPY12.848 billion for the term). In the aluminum segment, sales increased by 7% with the operating income up 51.6%. In the other segment, sales increased by 3.8% with the operating income up 1.6%.

　Regarding the forecast of the next term, SDK estimates to renew the highest record with sales up 15.3% amounting to JPY900 billion with the operating income up 41.4% amounting to JPY110 billion, ordinary profit up 65.7% amounting to JPY106 billion and the net profit for the term up 94.2% amounting to JPY65 billion. The dividend is set at 70 yen with an addition of 20 yen.