Japan’s Toray Group has reported improved sales for the first nine months ended December 31, 2005.  Net sales rose 12.6% to 1,026.5 billion yen ($8,692 million) from the same period of the previous fiscal year, buoyed by growing sales in business segments such as Fibres and Textiles and Plastics and Chemicals. Operating income grew 15.2% to 57.8 billion yen ($490 million), mainly because of the strong performance in the Carbon Fiber Composite Materials segment and Plastics and Chemicals segment.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Toray produces fibres, textiles, resins, plastics, films, chemicals, ceramics, composite materials, medical products, and electronics.