TOKYO -- Japanese chemical maker Asahi Kasei's group operating profit grew about 20% to roughly 200 billion yen ($1.5 billion) in fiscal 2021, Nikkei has learned, buoyed by a rebound in demand for auto parts and brisk sales of battery materials.
The figure falls slightly short of the company's 213.1 billion yen forecast, but is close to an all-time high. Sales also rose about 20% to 2.45 trillion yen, in line with Asahi Kasei's projection and topping the record set in fiscal 2018.
