OREANDA-NEWS. Sojitz Corporation's consolidated business results for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2013, are presented below.

Consolidated net sales increased 3.7% year on year,to JPN 3,062,228 million, due to completed overseas orders for coal-fired power plants and benefits of yen depreciation with relation to overseas automotive businesses in the Machinery Division. The Chemicals Division's net sales also increased, due in part to the benefits of yen depreciation with relation to sales to Asia. These benefits counteracted the impacts of the divestment of a petroleum product sales subsidiaryin the Energy & Metal Division.

Consolidated gross profit increased JPN 11,310 million year on year, to JPN 152,963 million, due to the increases in profit from overseas automotive businesses in the Machinery Division and from overseas fertilizer businesses in the Consumer Lifestyle Business Division.

Consolidated operating profit increased JPN 4,116 million year on year, to JPN 31,116 million, as a result of gross profit growth.

Consolidated profit before tax grew JPN 13,163 million year on year, to JPN 37,793 million, lifted by an increase in share of profit of investments accounted for using the equity method in addition to operating profit growth.

Consolidated profit for the period was JPN 24,690 million after deduction of JPN 13,103 million in income tax expenses from the JPN 37,793 million in consolidated profit before tax. Profit for the period (attributable to owners of the Company) increased JPN 8,429 million year on year, to JPN 20,855 million.

Consolidated comprehensive income for the period was JPN 79,547 million, a JPN 56,975 million year-on-year increase largely attributable to improvement in foreign-currency translation differences for foreign operations stemming from yen depreciation as well as to growth in profit for the period. Consolidated comprehensive income for the period (attributable to owners of the Company) totaled JPN 74,600 million, a JPN 56,002 million increase from the previous equivalent period.