Just before his comment, Itochu predicted an annual dividend of at least 94 yen ($0.9) a share for the current financial year, after paying 88 yen a share for the year just ended.

The company aims to increase its annual dividend to 100 yen a share during a new 3-year business plan through March 2024, Ishii said.

(Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Kim Coghill)