Business · Companies · 18 hrs ago
Five Japanese trading houses increase profits as resource prices rise
All five major Japanese trading houses increased net profit in the six months from April to September 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier.
Mitsui & Co., Itochu and Marubeni each posted their highest profit for a first half.
Four of the five raised their full-year profit forecasts; Itochu did not.
Mitsubishi Corporation, Itochu, Sumitomo Corporation and Marubeni now expect record annual profits.
Higher prices for metals and energy boosted earnings, including from trading and from the companies’ resource investments.
Demand for copper linked to data-centre power networks, and firm prices for coking coal and aluminium, also supported results.
Tensions in the Middle East pushed up oil, gas and petrochemical prices after the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed.
Whether these firms can keep earning through an economic downturn remains a key question beyond this strong half-year.
All five major Japanese trading houses reported higher net profit for the first half of fiscal 2026 than a year earlier.
Mitsui, Itochu and Marubeni each posted record first-half profits.
Four companies, excluding Itochu, raised their full-year net profit forecasts.
Higher resource prices and business reforms supported the results.
The article says the companies’ ability to withstand an economic downturn remains a key focus.
- Who
- Japan’s five major trading houses.
- What
- All five reported higher first-half net profit than a year earlier.
- When
- The first half of fiscal 2026, covering April to September; results were available by November 4.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Higher resource prices, including for copper, coking coal and aluminum, and increased prices for oil, LNG and petrochemicals supported profits.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The five trading houses recorded higher first-half net profit than in the same period a year earlier.
First-half results for all five companies had been released.
- Companies
- Five major Japanese trading houses
- First-half period
- April–September 2026
- Record first-half profits
- Mitsui, Itochu and Marubeni
- Raised full-year profit forecasts
- Four companies, excluding Itochu
- Full-year record-profit forecasts
- Mitsubishi, Itochu, Sumitomo and Marubeni