TOKYO -- Ink and chemicals maker DIC apparently enjoyed a 5% increase in group operating profit to about 57 billion yen ($514 million) in 2017, reaching its second straight annual record on strong demand for display- and smartphone-related materials.
The Tokyo-based company likely beat projections by about 1 billion yen, with strong sales making up for an increase in materials costs for its printing inks and polymers. It also saw firm demand in its fine-chemicals segment, which deals with liquid crystal materials and functional pigments, as well as for adhesive tapes used in smartphones.
