Mitsui Chemicals Inc

TSE:4183

Earnings Call Transcript 2023-Q3

[中島 一, executive]

My name is Hajime Kajima, CFO of Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. Let me explain our results in the past 9 months of the year and the outlook for FY 2022 with our presentation material. This section describes trend in key market indicators for our business in the latest results and outlook for fourth quarter. First is the outlook for global automotive production. Automotive production is on the recovery trend, but the recovery from second quarter to third quarter of FY 2022 was flat due to regional differences, which may be partly due to seasonal factors. From third quarter to fourth quarter, overall recovery is expected to resume except for the impact of the Chinese New Year. As for the semiconductor market, its demand continues to decline and further drop is also expected due to the impact of Chinese New Year.

As for the Chemical product market, the supply-demand environment for Phenol and Bisphenol A are softening and remain at a low level even from third quarter to fourth quarter, and TDI is also expected to stay low. For crackers, we expect low operations to continue throughout the second half of the year due to weak demand.

The status of major investment projects. Projects in yellow include those that started commercial operation in the current fiscal year. Blue are the ones we have made decisions this year. As for development since the last financial announcement in November 2022, the Vision Care business acquired Coburn Technologies, Inc., a manufacturer of eyeglass lens processing machines.

Consolidated financial highlights. Sales revenue for the April-December period was JPY 1,428.9 billion, an increase of JPY 263.8 billion from the same period last year. Operating income before special items was JPY 110.3 billion, a decrease of JPY 24.0 billion versus the same period a year ago. Net income attributable to owners of the parent was JPY 64.9 billion, a decrease of JPY 37.8 billion from last year. The exchange rate was JPY 137 against the dollar, a depreciation of JPY 26 against the same period last year. Domestic standard naphtha prices were JPY 80,000 per kiloliter, up JPY 26,000 from last year. The following is a highlight of year-on-year comparisons of operating income before special items in this results announcement.

There are 8 points as follow. In terms of volume, number 1, sales of polyolefins and phenols decreased due to lower demand. Number 2, sales of semiconductor-related products also declined due to a slowdown in demand in the semiconductor and smartphone market. Number 3, on the other hand, sales of Vision Care and Agrochemicals remained strong. Number 4, the global shortage of automotive-related parts remains, but sales for automotive-related applications are recovering. In the area of trading, number 5, terms of trade improved due to price revisions and yen depreciation, mainly in the mobility sector. Number 6, overseas market prices for bisphenol A declined due to a softening supply-demand environment. Number 7, inventory valuation gain shrunk due to the decline in prices of naphtha and other raw materials from second quarter. As for cost, number 8, higher repair costs due to soring construction-related material prices and higher costs due to investment of resources in new products or new business development.

Looking at the results by factor of the JPY 24.0 billion profit decline from the same period last year, the volume difference was minus JPY 11.3 billion. Terms of trade was plus JPY 19.9 billion, and the fixed costs and others was minus JPY 32.6 billion. Although the company's overall profit decreased year-on-year, the total profit of growth domains were JPY 83.5 billion or an increase of JPY 16.0 billion year-on-year.

Sales revenue and operating income before special items by business segment. As for the sales revenue on the left, all segments reported revenue increases, totaling JPY 263.8 billion year-on-year. In Life & Health Care & Mobility segment, the increase in sales volume was a factor. But in overall, it was due to the implementation of sales price revisions due to higher raw material and fuel prices and the impact of exchange rate differences or a weaker yen. The operating income before special items on the right side decreased by JPY 24.0 billion from last year, but its total in the growth domains increased by JPY 16.0 billion. Profit in ICT decreased while it increased in Life and Healthcare and Mobility.

The following pages will explain in detail the factors behind the increase or decrease in each segment. In the Life and Healthcare Solutions, operating income before special items for the current fiscal year reached to JPY 21.6 billion, an increase of JPY 3.3 billion from the same period of the previous year. The volume difference was a positive JPY 4.5 billion. Sales volume of Vision Care and Agrochemicals increased steadily.

Oral care sales were on par with the previous year. Terms of trade was plus JPY 4.1 billion due to an improvement in nonwoven fabrics and an improved trade in Agrochemicals, resulting from the weaker yen. Although the price increase in Vision Care has not yet caught up with the rise in raw material prices, fixed costs and others were negative JPY 5.3 billion, mainly due to higher fixed costs in Oral care and Agrochemicals. Mobility Solutions operating income before special items for this fiscal year reached JPY 38.9 billion, a significant increase of JPY 14.9 billion over the same period last year. The volume difference was an increase of JPY 1.8 billion due to a recovery in automotive-related applications and firm demand for solar cell encapsulants. Terms of trade was positive JPY 21.6 billion, reflecting overall price revision, yen depreciation and the shift to high value-added products in Elastomers. Fixed costs and others were minus JPY 8.5 billion due to an increase in fixed costs, including accelerated development of new products and businesses.

In ICT Solutions, operating income before special items this year was JPY 23.0 billion, a decrease of JPY 2.2 billion versus the same period last year. The volume difference was a negative JPY 5.8 billion, largely affected by the decline in demand for semiconductors and smartphones. Terms of trade was positive JPY 6.7 billion. This was mainly due to yen depreciation, but there was also an improvement in trading terms due to price revisions in the packaging area, such as coating and engineering material. Fixed cost and others were minus JPY 3.1 billion due to an increase in fixed costs for new plant operations and other items.

Basic and Green Materials posted operating income before special items of JPY 29.8 billion, a decrease of JPY 37.7 billion from the same period last year. The volume difference was minus JPY 11.8 billion due to lower sales of polyolefins and phenols. Trading terms were negative JPY 12.5 billion due to the significant negative impact of the decline in market prices, mainly for bisphenol A and the decline in inventory valuation gains due to the fall in raw material prices. Fixed costs and others were minus JPY 13.4 billion. Although equity earnings from polyurethane business increased, total equity income was down because of the large decrease in equity in earnings from phenol business due to the market decline and increased fixed costs such as repair and maintenance expenses.

Breakdown of nonrecurring items. Total of nonrecurring items was negative JPY 3.3 billion, a deterioration of JPY 7.6 billion versus the same period last year. This was mainly due to negative goodwill gains in the previous year and impairment losses in some businesses this year.

Consolidated statements of financial position. Total assets amounted to JPY 2,085.7 billion, an increase of JPY 150.7 billion from the end of March 2022. While there was an increase in fixed assets due to foreign currency translation differences resulting from the weaker yen and increased investments. This was mainly due to a large increase in inventories due to higher raw material and fuel prices.

Consolidated statement of cash flow. Cash flows from operating activities was JPY 44.1 billion. Cash flows from investing activities was minus JPY 67.3 billion. As a result, free cash flows was negative JPY 23.2 billion. The JPY 36.7 billion improvement in investment cash flows from the same period of the previous year was due to an increase in cash flow with capital reduction as we canceled the polyurethane joint venture. Cash flows from financing activities amounted to a positive JPY 29.0 billion.

Next, I will explain outlook for FY 2022. This is the highlight of consolidated financial outlook. Sales revenue is expected to be JPY 1,910.0 billion, an increase of JPY 297.3 billion over the previous year. Operating income before special items is JPY 130.0 billion, a decrease of JPY 31.8 billion from the previous year and a downward revision of JPY 10.0 billion from the previous outlook. Net income attributable to owners of the parent is expected to be JPY 95 billion, a decrease of JPY 15 billion from the previous year. In fourth quarter, we expect the yen to appreciate and naphtha prices to fall. The exchange rate is assumed to be JPY 135 for the full year, a depreciation of JPY 23 from the previous year.

Domestic standard naphtha prices are expected to rise to JPY 77,000 per kiloliter for the full year, an increase of JPY 20,400 over the previous year. The dividend remains unchanged from the previous outlook and is expected to be JPY 120 per share for the full year. The following pages will explain in detail the factors behind the increase or decrease in profit or loss for each segment.

The following is a summary of our full year outlook for operating income before special items in comparison to the previous year. There are 8 points as follows: In terms of volume, number 1, sales of polyolefins and phenols continue to decline due to lower demand. Number 2, semiconductor-related products also continue to see a decline in sales due to slowing demand in the semiconductor and smartphone markets. Number 3, on the other hand, sales of Vision Care and Agrochemicals remain strong. Number 4, sales of automotive-related applications are expected to recover. As for terms of trading, number 5, trading terms improved due to price revision and yen depreciation, mainly in the mobility segment. Number 6, overseas market prices for bisphenol A declined due to a softening supply-demand condition.

Number 7, inventory valuation gains are expected to shrink as prices of naphtha and other raw materials decline from second quarter. In terms of cost and other factors, number 8, we expect cost to increase due to several reasons, which includes higher repair costs caused by soaring construction-related material cost and investment of resources in new products and new business development. Taking these factors into account of the JPY 31.8 billion decrease in profit over the previous year, we expect a negative JPY 9.5 billion in volume difference, a positive JPY 13.0 billion in trading terms and a negative JPY 35.3 billion in fixed cost and other.

The company as a whole, we expect a decrease in profit from the previous year, but the total of growth domains is expected to be JPY 108.5 billion, an increase of JPY 20.2 billion from the previous year, and the steady increase in earnings are expected. In particular, Mobility is the driving force. This slide shows changes from the previous outlook for the second half operating income before special items by segment. Life and Healthcare is unchanged from the previous outlook. In Mobility, volume is negative from the previous outlook, but the upward revision of JPY 3.0 billion is due to improved trade resulting from lower raw material prices and lower fixed cost.

ICT is revised downward by JPY 4.5 billion due to negative volume impact from slowing demand in the semiconductor and smartphone markets. The growth domains as a total, would decline, but only by JPY 1.5 billion from previous year due to the positive growth in Mobility. Basic and Green Materials is revised downward by JPY 9.5 billion due to a negative volume impact from weak demand and inventory write-downs resulting from the decline in naphtha prices.

In the Life and Healthcare Solutions segment, operating income before special items is forecasted to be JPY 30.5 billion, an increase of JPY 5.6 billion from previous year. That means no change from the last outlook. While we expect a negative impact from the appreciation of the yen, we also expect price adjustment in domestic agrochemicals and an improvement in nonwoven fabrics trade due to the decline in naphtha, but we generally expect no significant changes in overall business environment. And we have not changed the figures for increases and decreases by factor since last time.

The Mobility Solutions segment is expected to post operating income before special items of JPY 51.0 billion, an increase of JPY 17.8 billion from the previous year. The volume change is a plus of JPY 3.5 billion due to a recovery in automotive-related applications and firm demand for solar cell encapsulants. Terms of trade are positive JPY 24.5 billion, reflecting overall effect of price revision, yen depreciation and the shift to higher value-added products in elastomers. Fixed costs and others are expected to be minus JPY 10.2 billion due to an increase in fixed costs, including accelerated development of new products and businesses.

ICT Solutions expects operating income before special items of JPY 27.0 billion, a decrease of JPY 3.2 billion from the previous year. The volume change is negative JPY 6.0 billion, largely affected by the decline in demand for semiconductors and smartphones. Terms of trade are expected to increase by JPY 7.5 billion, which is mainly due to the depreciation of the yen, but general trading terms will also improve as we expect enjoying benefit from price revisions and lower material cost in packaging business area such as coating and engineering materials.

Fixed calls and others are expected to be minus JPY 4.7 billion due to an increase in fixed costs, resulting from the operation of new plants, et cetera. Basic and Green Materials expect its operating income before special items to be JPY 27.5 billion, a decrease of JPY 50.3 billion from the previous year. Volume differences, minus JPY 13.0 billion due to reduced sales of polyolefins and phenol. Terms of trade is minus JPY 23.0 billion, mainly due to the negative impact of the decline in market prices, mainly for bisphenol A and the decline in inventory valuation gains due to the fall in raw material prices.

In fixed cost and others, equity in earnings in polyurethane is to increase, but the decline in equity in earnings in phenol is so significant due to the decline in market prices that total equity in earnings is expected to deteriorate. Other fixed costs, including maintenance and repair are also increasing and total impact is expected to be minus JPY 14.3 billion.

Next, I will explain the change in operating income before special items by segment from the third quarter results to the fourth quarter outlook. Profit in the Life and Healthcare segment is expected to increase by JPY 1.1 billion in the fourth quarter compared with the third quarter. This is mainly due to an increase in sales of agrochemicals in Japan in a period of high demand.

Mobility is expected to decrease by JPY 3.4 billion. This is mainly due to the appreciation of the yen and the elimination of gains from the time-lag effect of sales price formula for the period. ICT is expected to decrease by JPY 4.0 billion. This is mainly due to worsening terms of trade due to the strong yen and increased cost, such as the recording of taxes and dues in fourth quarter. Basic and Green Materials is expected to decrease by JPY 4.8 billion. This is mainly due to increased costs such as tax and dues recorded in the fourth quarter.

Lastly, outlook for the cash flow statement. Cash flows from operating activities is to be positive JPY 90.0 billion, and cash flows from investing activities, minus JPY 64.5 billion. This means free cash flow is to be positive JPY 25.5 billion, improvement of JPY 140.7 billion in investment cash flows over the previous year is mainly due to the fact that while there was a large M&A in the second half of the previous year, this year, there is a paid in capital reduction due to the dissolution of a polyurethane joint venture and the cash inflow from the transfer of shares in the Phenol Singapore base. Cash flows from financing activities is expected to be negative JPY 14.0 billion due to repayment of borrowings.

This ends my explanation. Thank you very much for your attention.