By: Shilpa Sharma
TECHNOLOGY major Samsung Electronics said it expects the company’s quarterly profit to grow 53 per cent amid a global chip shortage.
The world’s biggest memory-chip and smartphone maker has forecast an operating profit of £8 billion for the quarter ending June, as strong demand for memory chips is likely to offset weaker sales of devices.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, demand for electronics components has surged as people shifted more of their lives online.
The upbeat projection by Samsung signals continued strength for the technology industry.
In recent months, computer chip makers have attained much power to increase their prices due to the historic supply crunch.
Last month, Samsung’s co-chief executive and mobile chief, Koh Dong-jin told shareholders, “There’s a serious imbalance in supply and demand of chips in the IT sector globally.”
The global chip shortage also affected car industry, with major manufacturers around the world being forced to halt production at several times.
In recent months, auto brands including Ford, General Motors, Volkswagen and Jaguar Land Rover have all suspended their production lines.
To counter this global shortage, las month, US president Joe Biden and European commissioner Margrethe Vestager unveiled plans to manufacture more computer chips in Europe and the US.
To boost chip-manufacturing, the EU promised an allocation of $150bn (£108bn), while US announced a sum of $52bn (£37.3bn) for domestic chip manufacturing.
