22 management s discussion and analysis of operations overview the japanese economy showed signs a self sustained private sector recovery during fiscal year ended march 31 2001 but was also faced with harsh employment situation steady demand both domestically overseas for automobiles mobile phones other durable consumer goods tempered by further sluggish spending in specialty steel industry strong sales to automobile first half coupled growing it related industries lifted production 11 5 over previous 16 194 thousand tons results under review daido group enhanced customer centric marketing activi ties drawing on its leading edge technologies branched out into new growth areas such as electronics environmental systems materials result these initiatives con solidated net climbed 27 352 million 378 588 while operating income increased 6 228 18 503 business segment are follows this totaled 207 485 an increase 890
