Fujitsu Ltd has detailed its fiscal 1995 figures (CI No 2,672) to show that the computer business rose 1% to $24,379m (on the company’s own yen-dollar translation) with domestic sales up 2% at $17,656m, and foreign sales – which include those of ICL Plc and part of those of Amdahl Corp on an equity accounting basis – flat at $6,723m. Semiconductors and electronic components were up 17% at $5,172m, with domestic business up 6% at $2,771m and foreign up 33% at $2,401m. Communications systems were up 3% at $5,626m, with domestic business up 6% at $4,077m but foreign off 4% at $1,549m. Other domestic operations rose 7% at $1,151m and other overseas rose 18% to $1,426. Adding all those together, total business rose 4% to $36,603m, with domestic up 3% and foreign up 5%. Although Japan suffered from adverse economic conditions, influenced by the appreciation of the yen and a slumping stock market, says Fujitsu, favourable trends continued in the US and Asian nations, while Europe also moved toward recovery. Continued trends towards downsizing and open systems spurred demand for personal computers and workstations among corporate users, and there was also strong demand for home personal computers. Expanded demand for mobile telephones resulted in increased sales of mobile communications systems, and sales of high-speed transmission equipment for value-added networks and corporate network systems also grew. The operating environment will continue to be impacted by yen appreciation as well as the dramatic transformation of the information technology market, including the trends toward lower prices, increased variety of product functions and growing demand for client-server systems this fiscal, Fujitsu says. In response, the company says it plans to move ahead with the globalisation of its operations, restructure its domestic and ove rseas production structure, develop higher-value-added products, and carry out selective targeted investment to offer new products and reduce prices.
