Twaron, a high-performance synthetic fiber and flagship product of Teijin Aramid, combines mechanical strength, chemical resistance, durability, and thermal stability. Renowned for its versatile advantages, it is widely favored across industries.
Traditionally golden-yellow due to its chemical processing, Twaron is now available in full black for the first time. Teijin Aramid, which operates three production sites in the Netherlands accounting for over half of global aramid output, has overcome the inherent difficulty of dyeing aramid fibers. The resulting black yarn matches the quality of its standard counterpart. Weighing five times less than steel yet five times stronger, Twaron is commonly used in bulletproof vests, ropes, cables, sails, and firefighter gear.
At the request of maritime and sports industry clients, Teijin Aramid began exploring alternative colors for Twaron. The debut of Twaron Black occurred on sails during the Volvo Ocean Race, the world's largest offshore sailing competition. Unlike cotton fibers, which are dyed post-production, black pigment is infused directly into Twaron during manufacturing. This innovation makes it the first black aramid fiber with properties equivalent to its golden-yellow version. CEO Gert Frederiks explained, "Twaron Black merges the fiber's exceptional performance with an aesthetic appeal. While black aramid fibers exist elsewhere, their modulus differs from standard Twaron."
Teijin's FY2023 Financial Results (Ended March 31, 2023)
Net Sales: ¥1.03 trillion (approximately ¥47.94 billion), up 1.4% year-on-year.
Operating Profit: ¥13.5 billion (approximately ¥627 million), up 5.3%.
Net Profit: ¥10.6 billion (approximately ¥492 million), turning a profit compared to a net loss of ¥17.7 billion in the previous year.
Business Segment Performance
Materials Business: Strong demand for automotive applications drove net sales to ¥439.7 billion (up ¥1 billion YoY), though operating losses narrowed to ¥6.2 billion (improved by ¥15.1 billion YoY).
Aramid Business: Despite high fiber prices, sales declined due to downstream inventory adjustments, resulting in slight YoY growth in revenue and net profit.
Resins & Plastics: Polycarbonate resin sales stagnated at FY2022 levels due to weak demand from China's economic slowdown and Europe's deceleration. Falling raw material prices and unfavorable sales structures impacted profitability.
Carbon Fiber: Reduced sales from inventory adjustments in recreational markets were partially offset by yen depreciation and lower raw material/fuel costs. Net sales rose slightly, while operating income dipped.
Composites Business: Price adjustments to counter earlier raw material hikes and cost-cutting measures offset declining demand in North America (including UAW strike impacts), leading to YoY growth in both sales and operating income.
