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[에너지경제신문 여헌우 기자] Samsung Electronics overcame adverse events such as Corona 19 and the trade dispute between the US and China last year and surpassed market expectations. Business divisions such as semiconductors and smartphones played a supporting role based on solid demand, and sales of home appliances and TVs increased due to’pent-up demand’, recording the fourth highest operating profit ever.
Samsung Electronics announced on the 28th that last year’s consolidated operating profit was totaled at 359 trillion won. This is a 29.62% increase from the previous year. It is the fourth time since 2013, 2017 and 2018 that the annual operating profit exceeded 35 trillion won. During the same period, sales increased 2.78% to 236 trillion 8070 billion won. It is the third highest sales amount ever.
In the fourth quarter alone, sales and operating profits were 61,551.5 billion won and 9,47 trillion won respectively. Compared to the same period last year, they jumped 2.78% and 26.35%, respectively.
In the first half of last year alone, Samsung Electronics showed a slower start than previous years due to the corona 19 pandemic. Then, in the third quarter, as demand for pent-ups exploded and demand for zipcocks surged, major fields such as semiconductors, smartphones, and home appliances showed a steady growth.
In particular, sales in the semiconductor, home appliance and TV sectors are remarkable. Last year, Samsung Electronics’ semiconductor sales exceeded 103 trillion won, up 8% year-on-year. The sales of the IT and smartphone divisions decreased by 7%, not exceeding the 100 trillion won wall, but home appliance and TV sales (48 trillion won) increased 6%, offsetting this by a certain level.
The market is expected to gradually increase demand for semiconductors this year. Expectations for a’super cycle’ will also be raised as DRAM prices rise. However, it is a variable that the exchange rate situation is not favorable. Samsung Electronics also said that there are various variables such as Corona 19, and did not reveal expectations for an improvement in the industry.
In the smartphone sector, earnings improvement is expected due to increased sales of flagship products such as the’Galaxy S21′ and the launch of new mid- to low-end models. The company’s goal is to continue the growth of home appliances by launching new products on time and expanding sales of premium products.
Samsung Electronics plans to accelerate the conversion of 1z nano DRAM and 6G V-NAND this year, while enhancing cost competitiveness and market leadership by expanding EUV application.
System LSI is actively responding to the 5G SoC and high-pixel sensor market with differentiated products, and the foundry plans to accelerate its growth by expanding mass production of EUV 5 nanometers and diversifying applications. The network plans to continue strengthening the global 5G business by expanding new orders.
In the case of home appliances, it has entered a seasonally low season, but it is increasing demand by expanding premium products such as’Neo QLED’,’Micro LED’ and Bespoke home appliances, enhancing marketing efficiency and enhancing online sales.
It also actively promotes movements related to the environment, society, and governance (ESG). He explained that Samsung Electronics is doing its best to improve business competitiveness, create environmental and social values, and also make great efforts to strengthen governance of sustainability management. Accordingly, the Sustainability Management Council, a company-wide consultative body that discusses the company’s sustainability management strategy, was promoted by the CFO so that sustainability management could be reflected in a higher ranking in the overall management decision-making process.