Samsung Electronics anticipates its profits for the first quarter of 2024 to surge more than tenfold compared to the previous year.
This projection is due to the recovery in chip prices following a post-pandemic decline and a surge in demand for artificial intelligence (AI) related products.
As the world’s leading manufacturer of memory microchips, smartphones, and televisions, the South Korea-based Samsung reportedly plans to publish a comprehensive financial report on 30th April 2024.
Projected profit
The tech giant has projected that its operating profit for the January-March 2024 quarter soared to 6.6 trillion won ($4.9bn; £3.9bn), marking a 931% increase from the same period in 2023, surpassing analysts’ forecasts of approximately 5.7 trillion won.
Rebound in microchip prices
A rebound in global semiconductor prices, following a significant downturn the previous year, is expected to bolster its earnings. Over the past year, global memory microchip prices have reportedly increased by about 20%. The semiconductor division of Samsung typically generates the most revenue for the company.
The demand for semiconductors is projected to stay robust throughout the year, fueled by the expansion in AI technologies. Furthermore, the earthquake that struck Taiwan on 3rd April 2024 could potentially constrict the worldwide chip supply, possibly enabling Samsung to further elevate its prices.
Taiwan a key player
Taiwan houses several key chipmakers, including TSMC, which supplies Apple and Nvidia. Despite TSMC reporting minimal impact on its production from the earthquake, it did experience some operational disruptions.
Additionally, Samsung is poised to benefit from the sales of its newly launched flagship Galaxy S24 smartphones, introduced in January.