Camera Majors’ Profitability to improve in Fiscal 2014-15

I t is reported that the profitability of Japan’s seven major digital camera makers is improving for the current fiscal year ending in March 2015 ( Canon’s fiscal year ends in December 2014). Though total shipments of digital camera units may decline by double digits, many expect profitability will improve by focusing on interchangeable lens system ( ILS) cameras and high- end compact cameras.

Canon anticipates its shipments to fall by 13% year- on- year, coming to 18.1 million units. But the operating profit of the imaging division will keep the year- on- year growth almost level, except for a 2% drop by revising a product mix. The company plans to ship 7.6 million units of ILS cameras, while reducing shipments of compact cameras. Nikon anticipates an 8% fall in the income of the imaging products segment and a 15% fall in unit shipments, but it expects a 3% gain in the operating profit for the current business year to 66 billion Yen. Nikon intends to introduce new models centering on ILS cameras. The company also plans to focus on new business areas including a medical segment, since it is too dependent on the imaging business for its consolidated operational profit.

Both Fujifilm Holdings and Panasonic expect the operational profits from their imaging divisions to turn black within the fiscal year, helped by valueadded mirrorless interchangeable lens system cameras. Olympus will also boost mirrorless models by 20% over the previous year, aiming to turn the operational profit black in the next business year.