삼성전자 3분기 영업이익 12.3조원<br /><br />Samsung Electronics projected its operating profit to reach $10.7 billion U.S. dollars in the third quarter of this year, hitting a two-year high.<br />The earnings surprise is all the more notable given the COVID-19 pandemic.<br />For more on this, we turn to Lee Kyung-min from the Korea Times who is on the line for us.<br />Good morning Kyung-min, can you tell us more about that.<br />In its preliminary earnings report for the July-Sept period released last Thursday, Samsung said its operating profit was estimated to have jumped 58.1 percent to 12.3 trillion won from a year earlier, the highest quarterly figure since the third quarter of 2018.<br />The firm's revenue was expected to record a 6-percent year-on-year increase to 66 trillion won.<br />This, as you mentioned, is a notable feat considering the pandemic, and is a figure well above the market consensus.<br />So Kyung-min, to which factors can we attribute the outstanding performance?<br />The firm's strong performance is primarily attributable to its better-than-expected sales of the new Galaxy lineup, as well as soaring demand for electronic goods amid the growing pandemic-induced stay-at-home trend.<br />The pandemic also helped the firm as it was as able to reduce marketing costs needed for retail shops following an increase in sales made via online platforms.<br />Also, its semiconductor business reported solid earnings bolstered by U.S. sanctions on Huawei, one of its largest customers and its global competitor.<br />Huawei bought a large number of chips in mid-August, before the U.S. export restrictions took effect on Sept. 15, resulting in a sales growth of 4 percent for DRAM and 13 percent for NAND flash.<br />And with the latest accomplishment, what possible growth opportunities and risks lie ahead for Samsung?<br />Market analysts say Samsung will enjoy a 5G network business expansion as at least 14 countries are currently reassessing or reviewing their reliance on Huawei's radio access network (RAN).<br />Given Huawei's weaknesses include its inability to access key technology and foreign markets, Samsung can thrive as long as it secures the supply chain, which seems quite viable.<br />The firm's 5G business has little exposure to China, the center of the GVC.<br />Its production disruption risk is well-diversified all across Korea, Vietnam, and the U.S.<br />The expansion's success will hinge largely on which firms it chooses as 5G equipment suppliers, a decision industry watchers say requires a judgment call.<br />Now, let's turn to Samsung Electronics' major local competitor. Did LG Electronics report solid third-quarter earnings as well?<br />LG Elec. projected its operating profit would come to 959 billion won, up 22.7 percent from a year earlier.<br />Its sales came to 16.9 trillion won in the same period, up 7.8 percent year-on-year.<br />Both the operating profit and sales reported the highest quarterly figures to date.<br />The firm, like Samsung, saw robust sales of its home appliances and TVs thanks to the pandemic-induced growing stay-at-home trend.
