Asahi Kasei reports “firm” synthetic rubber sales

Tokyo - Asahi Kasei has reported a 4.6-percent rise in its operating income for the full fiscal year 2015 ended on 31 March, with the figure rising to ¥165 billion (€1.33 billion).

Net sales dropped by 2.3 percent to ¥1.95 trillion yen, mostly as a result of price decline for petrochemical products with lower oil and naphtha prices.

Sales in the chemicals and fibre sector, decreased 12.5 percent to ¥835.6 billion, while operating income increased by ¥4.3 billion, 6.7 percent, from a year ago to ¥68.9 billion.

Market prices, said Asahi Kasei, deteriorated most notably for acrylonitrile.

In performance polymers, the company said, terms of trade improved due to lower feedstock costs, and sales of engineering plastics and synthetic rubber for fuel-efficient tires were firm.