Zeon elastomers business improves results on quarterly basis

Tokyo – Zeon Corp. has reported flat earnings (operating income) within its ‘elastomers business’ in the third quarter of fiscal year 2025, ending 31 March 2026.

The division, which includes synthetic rubbers, latexes and chemicals, reported earnings of Yen2.9 billion (€15.6 million) for the quarter ended 31 Dec 2025, on a par with the same period last year, but up 7% sequentially.

Division sales for the period fell 24% year-on-year to Yen55.4 billion, reflecting a 10% improvement over the previous quarter.

Sales declined across all product categories with synthetic rubbers reporting a 5% year-on-year decline to Yen43.1 billion but up 7% compared to the previous quarter.

Latexes dropped 11% year-on-year to Yen2.4 billion while chemicals saw a 9% decrease to Yen8.7 billion.

Volume-wise, sales of synthetic rubbers grew 7% year-on-year while latexes fell 35% and chemicals 8%.

Overall, shipments remained “generally steady” both in Japan and overseas for speciality rubbers, while general-purpose rubbers saw an increase in overseas demand, despite ‘sluggish’ conditions in China.

Commenting on the segment performance, Zeon said synthetic rubber sales grew on a quarterly basis, helped by an increase in general-purpose rubbers and the positive impact of yen depreciation.

Meanwhile, selling prices declined due to a drop in raw material prices.

In latexes, operating income rose due to lower SG&A costs and despite lower sales caused by “prolonged supply-demand imbalance in disposable gloves.”

Chemicals operations saw improved sales and earnings on a quarterly basis, supported by the positive impact of yen depreciation and lower raw material prices.