LG Electronics reported consolidated global sales of KRW 15.02 trillion (USD 13.9 billion) and operating profits of KRW 771 billion (USD 715.1 million) for the second quarter of 2018. Second-quarter sales rose 3.2 percent while operating profits increased 16.1 percent from the same period last year. Strong profitability from home appliances and air solutions and premium home entertainment products offset second-quarter operating losses from vehicle components and mobile communications. As regards to first-half 2018 sales and operating profits, revenues increased 3.2 percent from the 2017 first half to KRW 30.14 trillion (USD 28 billion) and operating income rose 18.5 percent to KRW 1.88 trillion (USD 1.7 billion). The LG Home Appliance & Air Solution Company posted strong second-quarter 2018 sales of KRW 5.26 trillion (USD 4.88 billion) and operating profits of KRW 457.2 billion (USD 424.04 million). Quarterly revenues grew 4.3 percent from last year, in part due to strong seasonal sales of air conditioners, and increased shipments of the LG Styler garment care system and air purifiers, especially in the domestic Korean market. Quarterly operating income increased 1.7 percent compared to the same period of 2017, driven by cost management and sales of premium clothes washers and refrigerators, offsetting the effects of higher raw material prices and unfavorable exchange rates. First half revenues for LG Home Appliances and Air Solutions were the highest in company history, exceeding 10 trillion (USD 9.47 billion) for the first time. The LG Home Entertainment Company reported second-quarter sales of KRW 3.82 trillion (USD 3.54 billion) and operating profit of KRW 407 billion (USD 377.48 million). Revenues increased 4.1 percent from the 2017 quarter due to healthy sales of LG Oled TVs, LG Super UHD TVs and other premium products. Operating income increased 44.1 percent from the second quarter last year, repeating Home Entertainment’s double-digit operating profit margin performance from the 2018 first quarter. In the second half, while the global TV market is expected to see weaker demand primarily due to the economic downturn in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, the company plans to maintain its solid profit strategy by expanding sales of premium products and further enhancing cost competitiveness. The LG Mobile Communications Company recorded sales of KRW 2.07 trillion (USD 1.92 billion) and an operating loss of KRW 185.4 billion (USD 171.95 million). Quarterly sales declined from last year due to the slowing growth of the global smartphone market and a decline in mid- to low-end smartphone sales in Latin America. The second-quarter operating loss was largely due to contracting sales and increased marketing investments to support new flagship smartphone launches. With competition in the premium smartphone category expected to intensify and growth to remain stagnant in the second half, the company will seek to further improve its business structure and increase sales of the new premium LG G7 ThinQ and LG V35 ThinQ flagship smartphones in key markets around the world.
