The sales decreased by 4.0% with the operating income up 8.6%, ordinary profit up 7.7% and the profit for the term up 9.2%. In terms of profit, the company renewed the record-high fiscal achievement.

The year-end dividend was arisen from 65 yen of last year to 95 yen including the commemorative 20 yen to celebrate the 90th anniversary of incorporation which is added to the new ordinary dividend of 75 yen.

In segmental terms, the drop in the sales of industrial gases was made up for by the equipment and machinery. The sales of oxygen, nitrogen and argon for optical fibers or electronics parts stayed in a sluggish trend and the delivery of air-separation gases dropped down about 5% from last year.

Though there were struggles in the sales of carbon dioxide and hydrogen, the sales revenue increased thanks to the progress in the revision of carbon dioxide and helium gas prices.

In the machinery and equipment business there was also a decrease in sales due to the rebound drop of large-scale projects which occurred last year, while an upward trend was seen in the field of profit thanks to the good sales of electronics producing devices and welding equipment. In addition, the large-scaled project of H2-related equipment for automobile manufacturers contributed to the profit making trend.

In California, USA, there occurred a lockdown due to the new coronavirus infection, which caused an unavoidable negative factor to halve the sales of hydrogen for FCV. However, the business as a whole kept a good pace with the increase in sales by 1.3% amounting to JPY190.5 billion and operating income by 6.8% amounting to JPY11.9 billion.

In the other categories, sales in the comprehensive energy business decreased by 6.7% with the operating income up 25.9%. While the sales of LP gas decreased due to the declined import price, while the LP gas market moved upward in the field of profit with an increase by JPY2.5 billion compared with the previous term.

Furthermore, the good sales of cooking stoves and cartridges and gas safety devices, the good sales in the LPG emergency power generator business contributed to the increase in profit.
　
Regarding the business forecast of the next financial year, Iwatani anticipates setbacks and delays in on-site construction works as well as capital investments which would probably occur in the automobile and construction/equipment industries during mainly the first half of the term and exert great negative influences particularly the industrial gas and equipment business.

On the other hand, such a situation is presumed to recover in the second half of next term. Considering the comparatively steady pace the electronics industry like the semiconductor field at the moment and the restoring the operation rate in China back to before the coronavirus infection. The sales forecast in the electronics business is a decrease by 0.4% amounting to JPY210 billion with an operating income down 29.9% amounting to JPY10.7 billion.

As for Iwatani’s overall forecast of consolidated business in the next year including the above industry is that sales will decrease by 1.4% amounting to JPY677.5 billion with an operating income down 14.0% amounting to JPY24.7 billion, ordinary profit down 14.5% amounting to JPY27.6 billion and the net profit for the term down 17.6% amounting to JPY17.3 billion.