Showa Denko Posts Record Operating Profit in 2005

Showa Denko announced on Thursday the consolidated net profit doubled to 15.647 billion yen in the year to December from 2004. The operating profit hit record 57.191 billion yen with higher sales. The favorable results were due to strong earnings of hard disc unit and better profit of petrochemical unit while the aluminium unit posted lower profit. The aluminium unit posted 32.6% lower operating profit at 8.31 million yen with 1.1% higher sales at 240.924 billion yen in 2005 from 2004. The aluminium can price decreased and the heat exchanger shipment decreased while the aluminium ingot price increased. The electronics and information unit increased the operating profit by 32.2% to 19.727 billion yen with 19.1% higher sales at 133.902 billion yen in 2005 from favorable results in 2004. The completed capacity expansion of hard disc contributed to the higher sales and profit for the unit. tonnes for can material and dropped by 10% for other domestic applications.