Zeon posts double-digit growth in elastomers’ business

Tokyo – Japanese materials supplier Zeon Corp has posted strong growth in its elastomers business in the first nine months of its 2017 financial year, ended 31 Dec 2017.

Net sales for the elastomers business rose 22% to Yen146,000 million (€1,107 million) during the nine-month period to end of December, compared with the same period in 2016.

Similarly, segment operating income rose 42% to Yen16,600 million for the period.

Within the segment, sales volume for rubber materials grew 19% to 459,000 tonnes by the third quarter, while latexes and chemicals also posted 12% and 2% growth.

Net sales for rubber materials rose 29% to Yen1.460 billion, while revenues from latexes and chemicals improved 4% and 6% respectively.

Explaining the healthy results, Zeon said volume sales of general-purpose rubbers rose 24% during the nine-month period, mostly directed at exports.

Speciality rubber volumes also rose 5%, with demand growing both locally and globally.