Overview by Business Segment Commodity Chemicals Hisashi Hara Executive Officer, General Manager, Commodity Chemicals Department Medium-term Management Plan Growth Strategies Key Business Segment Action Plans Strengthen foundation of existing businesses and increase earnings from high-purity inorganic products . Build optimal production systems at the three plants in Nagoya, Yokohama and Tokushima . Strengthen competitiveness and enhance electrolysis operations by introducing gas-diffusion electrode method . Expand business by augmenting high-purity inorganic products Caustic soda Caustic soda is used in the paper manufacturing process. Sulfuric acid has a wide spectrum of demand as a basic material and it is also used as a raw material in fertilizers. Caustic potash It is used in a broad range of applications, from alkaline batteries and pharmaceuticals to cosmetics, various potassium derivatives, detergents, and food additives. Iron (III) chloride solution It is used in electronics industries for etching printed wiring boards and lead frames and other applications. 11 Annual Report 2013