TOKYO—Zeon Corp.'s elastomers business has reported declines in both sales and operating income for the six-month period ended Sept. 30.
Net sales for the elastomers segment—comprised of its rubbers, latex and chemicals units—fell 8 percent to $848.7 million, while operating income decreased 37 percent to $55.3 million.
Rubber sales and operating income decreased because of the sluggish business in the automotive segment and general industry, Zeon said in its first half statement Oct. 31.
Volume sales for general purpose rubbers, mainly used for tires, rose 3 percent, marked by the growth of butadiene rubber and solution styrene butadiene rubber.
Specialty rubbers, mainly used within the automotive industry, posted a 9 percent decline in volumes due to global demand decline and sluggish market conditions, Zeon noted.
Sales and operating income in the rubber chemicals unit also fell, mainly as a result of volume decrease from the regular plant maintenance.