Toray Industries Inc

TSE:3402

Q3-2025 Earnings Call

[Masahiko Okamoto, executive]

Thank you very much for joining us today despite your busy schedule. On behalf of Toray Group, I'd like to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude towards your continued understanding and your interest in our management and business activities.

Now I would like to report Toray's business results for the third quarter ended December 31, 2024, and the business forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2025. Now I would like to follow the table of content shown on Page 1. This is a summary of the business performance and forecast. Core operating income of the 9 months was JPY 108.8 billion, a significant increase compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year. Based on the business performance for the 9 months and other factors, the entire business forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2025 remains unchanged from November 7, 2024, despite some revision of segment breakdown. Furthermore, the company is proceeding with share buybacks in line with the resolution at the Board of Directors meeting held on November 7, 2024. As of the end of January 2025, the total repurchase price of shares has reached JPY 23.6 billion, equivalent to 24 million of shares. I will explain the details starting from the next page.

I would like to begin with a brief summary of business results for the third quarter ended December 31, 2024. Please turn to Page 4. Consolidated revenue for the 9 months increased 5.2% compared with the same period a year earlier to JPY 1,923.9 billion. Core operating income increased 14.9% to JPY 108.8 billion, and profit increased 64.6% to JPY 75.2 billion.

Page 5 is about special items. Special items for the 9 months improved by JPY 0.9 billion to negative JPY 4.9 billion compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year. As for JPY 1.9 billion of economic compensation, the company posted estimated compensation to employees accompanying the production transfer from a resin compound manufacturing and sales subsidiary in China.

Page 6 about assets, liabilities, equity and free cash flow. As for financial condition at the end of December 2024, both assets and liabilities were affected by the increase in translated yen amounts from its overseas subsidiaries due to depreciation of the currency. Total assets stood at JPY 3,505.1 billion, up JPY 38.5 billion from the end of the previous fiscal year due to increases in inventories and tangible fixed assets such as property, plant and equipment. Total liabilities decreased JPY 29 billion from the end of the previous fiscal year to JPY 1,591.2 billion, owing mainly to decreases in bonds and borrowings. Total equity increased by JPY 67.5 billion compared with the end of the previous fiscal year to JPY 1,913.9 billion. Owners' equity was JPY 1,799.7 billion. Interest-bearing liabilities was JPY 925.8 billion, and D/E ratio was 0.51. Free cash flow was positive at JPY 88.3 billion.

Page 7 explains about capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization and R&D expenditures. Capital expenditures for the 9 months increased by JPY 49.6 billion to JPY 144.5 billion on a year-to-year comparison. Meanwhile, depreciation and amortization increased by JPY 0.7 billion to JPY 99.7 billion. R&D expenditures increased by JPY 2.6 billion to JPY 52.8 billion compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year.

The table on the Page 8 describes revenue and core operating income by segment. In addition, the graph on this page shows the fact analysis of JPY 31.6 billion increase in core operating income for the 9 months on a year-to-year comparison. Production and sales in the Fibers & Textiles, Performance Chemicals and Carbon Fiber Composite Materials segment have expanded, capturing demand increase and recovery. As for the net change in price in addition to the decrease in raw material and fuel prices, strategic pricing has contributed to the increase in core operating income. Core operating income increased 40.9% compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year, and core operating income margin rose 1.4 points as a result of capturing the strong demand and promotion of structural reform.

Using Page 9 and after, I'd like to explain the results of each segment. First, Fibers & Textiles. Revenue of the overall segment increased 3.9% to JPY 774.6 billion compared with the same period a year earlier, and core operating income increased 14.1% to JPY 50 billion. Apparel applications were robust overall as sales momentum of the fall/winter clothing in Japan and shipment from the overseas trading subsidiaries were strong. In the industrial applications, the automobile applications were affected by production decline in some automobile manufacturers in Japan and worsening market conditions in Europe.

Page 10 is the Performance Chemicals segment. Revenue increased 7.9% to JPY 712 billion compared with the same period a year earlier. Core operating income significantly increased a 97.4% increase to JPY 48.1 billion as demand recovery and improvement in the utilization rate in the films business has contributed to improvement in profit. I would like to explain the conditions of each business on the next page. The resins and chemicals business were affected by the production decline in some Japanese automobile manufacturers, but demand recovered in non-automobile applications for China and ASEAN. In the films business, profit improved due to the demand growth in electronic parts-related applications owing to rebound from inventory adjustments in the supply chain as well as improvement in the utilization rate.

In the Electronics and Information Materials business, demand for OLED-related materials and circuit materials saw some recovery. Breakdown of the increase in core operating income by segment is shown on the graph on the right. In addition to the demand recovery in the resins and films business, effect of the profitability improvement projects or D Pro implemented at overseas subsidiaries contributed to the increase in core operating income.

Page 12 is the Carbon Fiber Composite Materials segment. Revenue increased 6.7% to JPY 223.2 billion compared with the same period a year earlier, and the segment posted core operating income of JPY 14.1 billion, 24.1% increase from the same period a year earlier. In the aerospace applications, the pace of recovery slowed due to impact of the recent inventory adjustments. However, core operating income increased owing to decreases in utility costs from lower electricity and natural gas prices in Europe. I would like to explain the status of each application on the next page. In the aerospace applications, although sales for major customers were affected by the recent inventory adjustments, demand has steadily recovered year-on-year. In the sports applications, inventory adjustment continued in the general purpose products for outdoor leisure, but sales of high-end products were strong. In the industrial applications, the wind turbine blade applications continued its gradual recovery.

Page 14, in the Environment & Engineering segment, revenue decreased 1.6% to JPY 162.5 billion compared with the same period a year earlier. Core operating income increased 16.4% to JPY 17 billion. In the water treatment business, demand remained strong, but shipments for major projects in the Middle East were strong. Furthermore, sales of an engineering subsidiary in Japan was generally strong.

Page 15 is the Life Science segment. Revenue increased 2.2% to JPY 39.2 billion compared with the same period a year earlier, and core operating income decreased by JPY 0.1 billion to negative JPY 0.9 billion. The Pharmaceutical business was impacted by the penetration of generic versions of our drugs and the NHI drug price revision. In addition, sales volume was stagnant overseas. In the Medical Devices business, shipment of dialyzers were strong in Japan and overseas, but affected by the soaring prices of raw materials and fuels.

Page 16 shows the business results of major subsidiaries and regions. At Toray International, sales of resins and films were strong. At our subsidiaries in Southeast Asia, in the Fibers & Textiles business, the automobile applications in the industrial applications were strong. In the Performance Chemicals business, demand for ABS resins in China and ASEAN was on a recovery trend. At our subsidiaries in China, in the Fibers & Textiles business, the apparel applications and industrial applications, especially the automobile applications were strong. In the Performance Chemicals business, sales of resins were strong, but the Chemicals business was affected by periodic maintenance of facilities. As for subsidiaries in the Republic of Korea, in the Fibers & Textiles business, supply and demand balance of nonwoven public worsened. However, the spread of filament and staple fibers improved. In the Performance Chemicals business, sales of films and electronic and information materials were strong.

Next, I would like to explain the consolidated business forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2025. Please turn to Page 18. The global economy is likely to gradually improve along with the decline in inflation rate and monetary easing. The Japanese economy is also expecting a gradual recovery. However, the downward risks for the economy in Japan and overseas include potential changes in the fiscal and trade policies in the U.S. under the Trump administration, prolonged real estate recession in China, political instability in Europe, rising geopolitical risks as well as changes in the Bank of Japan's monetary policy and foreign exchange fluctuations.

Taking into consideration its business performance for the 9 months of the fiscal year and the business environment for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, Toray's full year consolidated forecast of revenue, core operating income and profit attributable to owners of parent remain unchanged from November 7, 2024, despite some revision of segment breakdown. This forecast from January onwards is based on an assumed foreign currency exchange rate of JPY 145 to the U.S. dollar.

Page 19 shows the consolidated business forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2025 by segment. Page 20 shows the comparison of core operating income between the forecast announced on November 7, 2024, and the new forecast with breakdowns into segments. The factors behind the differences are shown on the right side of the table.

Lastly, I would like to give a supplementary explanation on the current business environment and forecast for the Carbon Fiber Composite Materials segment. The business performance in the third quarter of FY 2024 worsened compared with the previous quarter due mainly to inventory adjustments in the supply chain and the customers in the aerospace and industrial applications. Going forward, in the aerospace applications, production rate improvement is planned at the major customers, and we expect sales recovery and expansion from the temporary inventory adjustment in the supply chain.

In the industrial applications, demand was weak mainly in Europe and was affected by inventory adjustment at customers. However, sales of compressed natural gas or CNG tanks continue to grow gradually and expansion of sales volume is expected in conjunction with promoting sales expansion of differentiated products. This concludes my presentation.

[Statements in English on this transcript were spoken by an interpreter present on the live call.]