Japan Makers Enjoy Firm Sales of Industrial Battery in F2006

GS Yuasa Corporation and Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery, Japanese major battery makers, posted higher sales and profits in fiscal 2006 ended March 2007 compared with fiscal 2005, while Furukawa Battery, another major battery maker in Japan, posted losses in fiscal 2006.GS Yuasa’s battery sales increased by 11% to 221.87 billion yen and the operating profit increased by 42% to 7.594 billion yen in fiscal 2006 compared with fiscal 2005. Automotive battery sales for new vehicles grew up thanks to price hike and sales volume increase in fiscal 2006, while automotive battery sales for repairing maintained low due to demand decline and severe price competition. Industrial battery demand was active for telecommunication related industries and contributed to the firm’s total profit growth.Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery’s automotive battery sales increased by 4% to 21.344 billion yen in fiscal 2006 from fiscal 2005 and the industrial battery sales upped by 11% to 21.637 billion yen.Furukawa Battery posted operating and recurring losses in fiscal 2006 impacted by the demand decline of automotive battery for repairing, when Furukawa Battery deals more automotive batteries than the other 2 battery makers. However, Furukawa Battery could expand the sales of automotive battery for new vehicles in Japan and at overseas. As a result, the total lead battery sales upped by 13.1% to 32.374 billion yen.