[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electro Mechanics will be supplying dual camera modules to Chinese smartphone makers for the first time, industry sources said on June 24.

“The South Korean firm will be begin supplying the modules to Xiaomi and LeECO beginning in July,” an industry source told the local media on the condition of anonymity.

Samsung Electro Mechanics have been supplying single camera modules to Xiaomi. The dual camera modules are likely to be fitted in the phonemaker’s Mi 5S, which is scheduled to be launched in the latter half of this year. 

”Samsung may also be supplying dual camera modules to another Chinese manufacturer, Oppo Electronics,” said the source. Oppo became the world’s fourth-largest smartphone seller in the first quarter of this year after selling 18.5 million handsets.

LeECO, originally established as a contents provider, unveiled its first smartphone in April 2015. It sold more than 5 million of the phones by the end of last year.

Market observers say the deal with the Chinese manufacturers would help Samsung Electro Mechanics reduce its reliance on Samsung Electronics.

In 2015, the firm depended on 61.8 percent of its sales on Samsung Electronics. The portion was higher than other affiliates such as Samsung Display and Samsung SDI, the figures showed.

(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)