Japan’s biggest beauty players have all posted solid results for the year so far, indicating the first signs of a recovering domestic economy. Pola Orbis Holdings Inc. is expected to report a record consolidated operating profit slightly above ¥6bn for the six months ended 30 June, up 6% year on year. For the full year ending 31 December, the company is expected to maintain earlier projections of sales growing 4% to ¥188.5bn and operating profit of ¥16bn.
Kao, meanwhile, is posting a group operating profit of roughly ¥38bn for the January-June half, buoyed by a recovering domestic market and Asian operations. The figures are a roughly 10% rise from its January-June 2012 profits and is in contrast to the company’a original forecast of an 8% decline in profits to around ¥32bn. For the full year ending 31 December, Kao expects group sales to hit ¥1.27 trillion, up 4% on 2012, while operating profit is predicted to increase 4% to reach ¥116bn.
Finally, mass market personal and oral care manufacturer Lion Corp. expects a 10% rise its 2012 group operating profit for the year to 30 June.
