Samsung narrows profit margin gap with Apple

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics has narrowed its operating profit margin gap with archrival Apple, with the figure reducing to the lowest-ever 7.62 percent in the second quarter. This is the first time that the gap has narrowed to a single-digit percentage point between the world’s top two smartphone-makers. Koh Dong-jin, chief of Samsung Electronics‘ mobile business unit, holding Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge phones. Samsung ElectronicsAccording to its earnings guidance, Samsung posted 8.1 trillion

July 27, 2016

Samsung, SK hynix to spend more on chips for self-driving cars

[THE INVESTOR] Korean chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are pouring more resources into producing chips for self-driving cars amid their slowing sales in key sectors such as PCs. SK hynix, the second-largest memory chipmaker next to Samsung, said on July 26 that its car business now makes more than 10 percent of DRAM sales. DRAM chips are used for temporary data storage. The company added the figure for NAND chips, used for long-term data storage on smartphones and computers, is lower

July 27, 2016

OLED shipments for smartphones to double by 2017: IHS

[THE INVESOTR] Shipments of organic light-emitting diode displays for smartphones are expected to almost double from last year’s 250 million units to 450 million units in 2017, market research firm IHS predicted. Currently, about 97 percent of the market is dominated by Samsung Display, the display-making unit of Samsung Electronics. IHS said this year’s shipments could surge 42.7 percent to 366.9 million panels compared to a year ago. Samsung Galaxy S7. The Korean tech giant is increasingly ado

July 25, 2016

Samsung, LG keep close eye on Vietnam’s minimum wage hike

[THE INVESTOR] Vietnam’s minimum wage hike is expected to take a heavy toll on big Korean firms such as Samsung and LG that have been beefing up production there due to low labor costs. Currently, the minimum wage for Vietnamese workers ranges between US$108-157 across regions. In the latest wage talks, labor groups asked for an 11 percent increase from next year, while employers resisted, proposing a moderate 4.62 percent raise. LG Electronics Vietnam Haiphong campus“There are over 4,000 Korean

July 25, 2016

Samsung Electro-Mechanics to invest W263b in chip technology

[THE INVESTOR] Electronic components firm Samsung Electro-Mechanics said on July 22 that it would invest 263.2 billion won (US$231.90 million) in beefing up its capability in chip packaging, an encapsulation process aimed at preventing erosion and damage.The investment amount accounts for 6.1 percent of the firm’s equity. Through the investment, Samsung Electro-Mechanics will develop the next-generation chip packaging facilities, which will be deployed at Samsung Display’s manufacturing complex

July 22, 2016

Samsung urged to beef up OLED production on soaring China demand

[THE INVESTOR] It seems unavoidable for Samsung Display, the display-making unit of Samsung Electronics, to further beef up production of its organic light-emitting diode panels on soaring demand from China’s smartphone manufacturers. UBI Research, a local market research firm specialized on OLED, predicted that the Chinese demand for mobile OLED could surge to some 200 million units next year. Samsung Galaxy S7 with OLED display. Apple iPhone’s planned adoption of OLED screen possibly from next

July 22, 2016

Legal battle escalates between Samsung, Huawei

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics has recently filed a suit against Huawei and its key retailer for patent infringements, escalating the legal battle between the two rival smartphone-makers. According to industry sources on July 22, the Korean tech giant sued Huawei for infringing its six patents, including those on mobile communication systems information control, and the retailer for selling the products. They involve Huawei’s key models such as Mate 8 and Honor series phones. Samsung asked e

July 22, 2016

Samsung acquires 2% stake in BYD

[THE INVESTOR] China’s largest electric car maker BYD on July 21 announced that Shanghai Samsung Semiconductor, a unit of Samsung Electronics, has acquired its 52.3 million shares for 3 billion yuan (US$450 million). With the acquisition, Samsung has become BYD’s ninth-largest shareholder with a 1.92 percent stake. BYD, which started as a rechargeable battery maker, is currently the largest EV maker not just in China but also globally. BYD’s 2016 full-electric and hybrid vehicle lineup“The lates

July 22, 2016