Hynix’s sales edge down, but profit rises from Q1

Hynix Semiconductor, the world’s second-largest computer memory chip maker, announced Thursday it posted 2.76 trillion won in sales and 447 billion won in operating profit for the second quarter.

The figures are down from the same period last year, 16 percent in sales and 56 percent in operating profit. Net income reached 473 billion won ($449 million).

“The second quarter started off with demand growth as supply concerns resulting from the Japanese earthquake,” Hynix officials said.

“However, this trend reversed in the latter part of the quarter due to weaker than expected demand from the increasing global economic uncertainties.”

Compared to the previous quarter, sales were down 1 percent, but operating profit went up by 38 percent.

The dynamic random access memory (DRAM) bit shipment between April-June was flat and the average selling price dropped 1 percent. The NAND Flash bit shipment climbed 36 percent, although the average selling price was down 19 percent, according to company officials.

DRAM is the most common kind of random access memory for personal computers and workstations and NAND Flash memory is a non-volatile storage technology which does not need power to retain data.

The company said it also plans to increase the production of 30 nanometer class process products, which were first produced this year, to 40 percent in DRAM business by the year end.

The premium product line-up in the non-PC sector, which includes mobile, graphic and server DRAM, will continue to account for about 70 percent of sales in the next quarter, said its officials.

By Cho Ji-hyun (sharon@heraldcorp.com)