Overall

• Sales index: 132.2(+1.8% year over year).
• Profit index: 99.5(▲2.2% year over year).
• Sales index was exceeded the previous year for the first time in 4 quarters. Profit index was lower than the previous year for 7 consecutive quarters.
In the January-March quarter, sluggish demand in China, high energy and raw material prices, and a recovery in the petrochemical market In addition to the delays,automobile-related shipments were sluggish in Japan, and the recovery in business performance of both general-purpose and specialty chemicals slowed. As for the future, demand is expected to recover, especially in the automotive and semiconductor-related industries.

General-purpose chemicals

• Sales index: 135.1 (▲0,1% year over year)
• Profit index: 90.7 (+22.6% year over year)
• Sales index was lower than the previous year for 5 consecutive quarters. Profit index was exceeded the previous year for the first time in 7 quarters.

Specialty Chemicals

• Sales index: 139.4 (+3.1% year over year)
• Profit index: 102.4 (▲15.1% year over year)
• Sales index was exceeded the previous year for the first time in 4 quarters. Profit index was lower than the previous year for 4 consecutive quarters.