According to the April-September 2014 corporate fiscal report, 19 of 26 top construction firms in Japan increased revenue and 17 reported more profit than in the earlier period. As for the order values, on the other hand, only about a half of the companies reached the same level with the earlier period.

Some companies recorded large increase in overseas construction orders, while domestic orders of general buildings such as hospitals, schools and residential declined significantly because of the consumption tax increase in April. Penta-Ocean Construction won a series of large-scaled orders outside the country, quadrupling the total value to 189.6 billion yen.

Average profitability rate improved from 4.9% in the earlier term to 6.8%. 19 companies reported increase in revenue and such firms as Tokyu Construction, Tekken, Nishimatsu, and Kumagai Gumi jumped more than 20%. 16 companies project to increase revenue and 22 expect rise in operating profit in the fiscal term ending March 2015. (2014/11/17)