Showa Denko Posts Much Better Profit in 2010

Showa Denko announced on Wednesday the firm gained consolidated operating profit at 38.7 billion yen for a full year of 2010, improved from operating loss at 5 billion yen in 2009. The sales volume increased along economic recovery trend. The full-year net sales increased by 18% to 797.2 billion yen.

The aluminium & other business unit posted year-on-year higher sales and profits. Sales volume of high purity aluminium foil increased for capacitors. The aluminium cylinder sales also increased for laser beam printers. Meanwhile, the aluminium extrusion sales decreased due to the business withdrawal from low grade products for architectural materials. The automotive heat exchanger sales were steady except in Europe. The aluminium can material sales also increased thanks to hot summer in Japan.

The electronics business unit posted year-on-year higher sales and profits. The hard disc media production increased mainly for notebook PCs. The sales also increased for compound semiconductors and semiconductor processing specialty gases. The sales volume and price upped for rare earth magnet alloys.