TOKYO --- As if in lockstep, six major Japanese electronic components manufacturers had announced by Friday markedly higher profits for the nine months ended Dec. 31.
Murata Mfg. Co.'s net profit jumped 140% on the year to 74.6 billion yen ($730 million) for the first three quarters, helped by strong demand for smartphone-use components and its telecommunications-related offerings.
"We currently have more orders than expected, especially for Wi-Fi-related products," board member Yoshito Takemura said.
The company also said it will increase its annual dividend by 10 yen over the previously stated amount. So investors will get 130 yen per share, 30 yen more than last year.
At TDK Corp., net profit leapt 55% on the year to 15.7 billion yen as computer and game console manufactures bought its hard-disk magnetic heads at a steady pace. Higher demand for smartphone components also helped.
Alps Electric Co. sold more of its touch panels for smartphones. Its 11.1 billion yen profit marked a turnaround from fiscal 2012′s net loss for the April-December period.
Nitto Denko Corp.'s profit climbed 7% to 38.5 billion yen, helped by brisk sales of film for touch panels.
Nidec Corp. logged a 43 billion yen profit, up 59%, while Kyocera Corp. saw its bottom line fatten by 54% to 69.3 billion yen.
TDK, Alps, Nidec and Nitto all raised their full-year profit forecasts. Nitto's move came on the heels of a December downgrade.
Still, in light of intense price competition, Nitto is "not yet in a place where we can expect wildly soaring growth," board member Toru Takeuchi said.
