Japanese chemical companies operating in Texas and nearby localities are feeling the impact from Hurricane Harvey’s rampage through the southern U.S. as they shut down facilities in the area. Harvey’s impact on Japanese chemical companies could be far-reaching. Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. (TYO:4188) and Kuraray Co. Ltd. (TYO:3405) have brought some plants offline. Many companies...
Shin-Etsu Chemical
Major Chemical Companies Achieve Soaring Profits on Back of Favorable Petrochemical Market – Part 1
Major Japanese chemical companies have released their financial results for the fiscal year ending March 2017, with each reporting an increase in net profit. Tosoh Corp. (TYO:4042) and Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (TYO:4183) in particular saw large profit margins, as the companies rode favorable petrochemical market conditions. Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. (TYO:4188) displayed strong sales of...
Silicon Wafer Supplies Stay Tight in Lieu of Price Hikes
Supplies remain tight for silicon wafers, the base materials used to produce semiconductors. They were shipped in record numbers in 2016 due to growing demand for semiconductors used in smartphones, eco-friendly automobiles and data centers. However, silicon wafer suppliers have postponed increases in manufacturing output due to profitability concerns. Two major Japanese makers, Shin-Etsu Chemical...
Four Major Chemical Companies Anticipate Record Profits for Fiscal 2016
Eight major chemical companies have announced their earnings for April through December 2016. Tosoh Corp. (TYO:4042) and Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (TYO:4183) recorded healthy profits as a result of robust earnings from petrochemical products and basic chemicals. Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd.’s (TYO:4063) profits were driven by Shintech Inc., the company’s U.S.-based polyvinyl chloride subsidiary. Seven companies...
Digest: Chemical Price Hike Announcements for Week of Jan. 30 – Part 1
A series of price hikes were announced by chemical companies during the week of Jan. 30 – Feb. 3. As with the second installment in this two-part special, unless noted otherwise, all price increases listed here are per kilogram. In caustic soda, Nippon Light Metal Co., Ltd. (TYO:5701) will raise the price of solid conversion...
Commentary: Heavy Demand for Silicon Wafers Leads to Possibility of Price Increases
The supply–demand balance for silicon wafers is tight at present. Demand has increased considerably not only for logic and memory technologies, but also for sensors and other parts related to the Internet of Things (IoT). And several manufacturers are now looking to take a strong stance into price negotiations following the New Year, targeting a...
Caustic Soda Prices in Japan Show Rising Momentum
Japan is approaching an upward phase in caustic soda prices. As the balance between caustic soda supply and demand has been tightening within Asian markets, prices have been rising overseas, including in China. With a widening disparity between overseas prices and what have been slumping domestic prices, Japanese manufacturers are working on increasing their prices....
Bulk Chemicals Drive Higher Profits in April–September Reports by Major Manufacturers
Seven major chemical companies simultaneously announced earnings for April through September 2016. Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. (TYO:4188), Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. (TYO:4005) and Asahi Kasei Corp. (TYO:3407), the top three in terms of net sales, reported lower operating income due to a higher yen. Meanwhile four other companies reported higher operating income: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co....
Shin-Etsu Chemical to Build New Functional Silane Factory in Naoetsu
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd. (TYO:4063) announced on Oct. 27 that it will invest 2.3 billion yen ($21.93 million) to construct a new functional silane factory at the company’s Naoetsu Plant in Niigata Prefecture. The new factory, slated for completion in March 2018, is intended to improve the quality of plastics used in such products as automobiles...
