Samsung’s revenue plunges 95 p.c on weak reminiscence chip demand | Know-how

Samsung Electronics has reported a greater than 95 p.c plunge in working earnings within the second quarter owing to weak demand for reminiscence chips.

The agency is the flagship subsidiary of South Korean large Samsung Group, by far the most important of the family-controlled conglomerates that dominate enterprise in Asia’s fourth-largest financial system.

Working revenue from the April to June interval was 668.5 billion received ($523.5m), down from 14.1 trillion received ($11 trillion) a 12 months earlier, Samsung stated in an announcement on Thursday.

This marks the agency’s worst quarterly revenue for the reason that first quarter of 2009.

Samsung’s second-quarter web revenue fell 84.5 p.c to 1.72 trillion received ($1.35 trillion), and gross sales dropped 22.3 p.c to 60 trillion received ($47 trillion).

The agency – one of many world’s largest makers of reminiscence chips and smartphones – blamed weak demand however provided an optimistic outlook for the rest of the 12 months.

“International demand is predicted to step by step get better within the second half of the 12 months, which ought to result in an enchancment in earnings pushed by the part enterprise,” it stated, however added that “continued macroeconomic dangers may show to be a problem”.

Samsung’s shares had been buying and selling 2.29 p.c increased on Thursday afternoon.

South Korean chipmakers, led by Samsung, loved report earnings in recent times as costs for his or her merchandise soared, however the world financial slowdown has dealt a blow to reminiscence chip gross sales.

Demand swelled through the pandemic as customers purchased computer systems and smartphones throughout lockdowns, prompting chipmakers to ramp up manufacturing.

However demand shortly diminished as lockdowns lifted and weakened additional within the face of hovering inflation and rising rates of interest.

Joanne Chiao, an analyst at market analysis agency TrendForce, stated output would lower additional — by an estimated 9.3 p.c — this 12 months owing to a weak total financial system.

“Shopper demand has weakened, resulting in price range cuts by corporations and ongoing order cancellations,” Chiao added.

TrendForce forecast worth declines of DRAM chips — usually utilized in PCs and smartphones — to sluggish within the second half of the 12 months as chipmakers tighten provide after costs plunged as a lot as 18 p.c within the second quarter.

In April, Samsung stated it could make a “significant” lower in reminiscence chip manufacturing, following the lead of rivals SK hynix and Micron.

The latest drop in earnings has not deterred the agency from making daring investments.

In March, it unveiled plans to contribute $227bn over the following 20 years to constructing the world’s largest chip centre in Yongin, south of Seoul.

‘Silver lining’

Samsung has additionally been grappling with a protracted hunch within the world smartphone market, which contracted by 11 p.c within the second quarter from a 12 months earlier, in keeping with trade knowledge supplier Canalys.

“Mass market restoration was additionally delayed as a result of continued financial downturn, affecting Q2 gross sales,” Samsung stated in its Thursday assertion.

The earnings outcomes come a day after Samsung rolled out a brand new lineup of high-end foldable handsets — the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 — and the agency stated it anticipated a return to regular development within the the rest of the 12 months, “particularly within the premium market”.

Multiple out of 5 smartphones offered through the second quarter globally had been higher-end gadgets, stated market evaluation agency Counterpoint Analysis, including that the premium phase was a “silver lining” for the trade.

Liz Lee, affiliate director at Counterpoint, stated “the difficult environment will reverse” within the second half of the 12 months, led by development within the premium market, “which affords increased profitability and resilience to financial downturns”.

Samsung’s new foldable telephones had been anticipated to “surpass conventional flagships in total efficiency” and enhance the corporate’s earnings momentum for the rest of the 12 months, Lee instructed the AFP information company.

“Though the foldable smartphone market stays area of interest, it is a crucial phase with excessive development potential for Samsung trying to preserve management in innovation and a premium market presence,” she added.