Key sectors' profitability worsens over last 6 years: data

South Korea's major industries have suffered a severe pullback in their profitability over the past few years largely due to increased foreign rivalries and a protracted economic slump, data showed Wednesday.
  

According to the data compiled by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the shipbuilding, construction and chemicals sectors have taken a beating, while oil-refining, semiconductors and other sectors have become more profitable.
  

The data showed that the country's shipbuilding sector logged an operating-to-sales ratio of minus 1.6 percent in the first half of the year, a sharp downturn from the 8.2 percent ratio in 2009.
  

The nation's big three shipyards -- Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. and Samsung Heavy Industries Co. -- are expected to rack up a loss of more than 6 trillion won this year, due to increased costs and the global economic slump.
  

They have already suffered a combined loss of 4.7 trillion won in the first half of 2015.
  

Builders also suffered a 1.4 percentage-point drop in their operating income to sales ratio, dropping to 3.7 percent in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2008.
  

The chemicals logged an operating income to sales ratio of 5.8 percent in the first half, down from the 9.5 percent in 2008.
  

The country's automaking sector, however, fared relatively well with its comparable figure sliding 7.6 percent from 7.0 percent over the cited period, the data showed.
  

The refining segment enjoyed a 2 percentage-point rise to 5.7 percent over the cited period, they showed. (Yonhap)