Japan’s NPC posts 35.3% revenue growth for fiscal 2018

Japanese PV manufacturing equipment provider, NPC Inc. has reported an increase in sales and operating income for the fiscal year 2018, ending August 31, 2018.

The company achieved revenues of JPY 6,433 million (US$57.3 million) in the latest fiscal year, up 35.3% from JPY 4,754 million a year earlier.

Operating income, however, dropped 19.8%, from JPY 596 million in fiscal 2017 to JPY 478 million in the latest fiscal year. Net income also dropped year-on-year, but only by 0.9%, from JPY 396 million to JPY 392 million.

NPC said that the machinery business for the PV industry accounted for almost all of its turnover, with sales totaling JPY 6,433 million. “Although there were several business deals of automated/labor-saving machine that included R&D, and loss of valuation of inventory assets, the Group was able to ensure the profit at a satisfactory level, which resulted to the operating income to be 977 million yen, 147 million yen decrease year on year,” the company said.

Looking forward, NPC said it is expecting to increase both profits and sales in the current fiscal year. “As for Machinery Business, a manufacturing line with new specification is expected to be booked to our major customers in the USA, however, due to the timing of booking, the peak of sales booking is expected to be in the latter half of the said fiscal year,” it added.

For full fiscal year 2019, ending on August 31, 2019, the company forecasts a revenue of JPY 7,009 million, while operating income and net result are expected to reach JPY 534 million and JPY 438 million, respectively.