October 31 2006 - Japan's Kyowa Hakko has reported an overall 18.4% rise in interim operating income for the six months ending September 30 2006.
The company says that sales of amino acids increased over the period, although no further breakdown of figures is offered in its consolidated results statement.
The increase in amino acid sales comes despite ‘intensified price competition in domestic and overseas markets’, Kyowa says.
Kyowa Hakko describes demand for domestic beverage-use amino acids during the period as ‘sluggish.’. Overseas (ie, outside of Japan) sales of dietary supplement amino acids ‘showed growth’.
Kyowa Hakko’s food business saw sales increase 0.3% over the period year on year, to YEN 20.9 billion. Operating income fell by 5.7% to YEN 0.8 billion, but sales of natural seasonings were higher than in the first half of the last fiscal year, the company says in its earnings statement. Umami sales also increased.