삼성전자 3분기 영업이익 12.3조원

Samsung Electronics projected its operating profit to reach $10.7 billion U.S. dollars in the third quarter of this year, hitting a two-year high.
The earnings surprise is all the more notable given the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more on this, we turn to Lee Kyung-min from the Korea Times who is on the line for us.
Good morning Kyung-min, can you tell us more about that.
In its preliminary earnings report for the July-Sept period released last Thursday, Samsung said its operating profit was estimated to have jumped 58.1 percent to 12.3 trillion won from a year earlier, the highest quarterly figure since the third quarter of 2018.
The firm's revenue was expected to record a 6-percent year-on-year increase to 66 trillion won.
This, as you mentioned, is a notable feat considering the pandemic, and is a figure well above the market consensus.
So Kyung-min, to which factors can we attribute the outstanding performance?
The firm's strong performance is primarily attributable to its better-than-expected sales of the new Galaxy lineup, as well as soaring demand for electronic goods amid the growing pandemic-induced stay-at-home trend.
The pandemic also helped the firm as it was as able to reduce marketing costs needed for retail shops following an increase in sales made via online platforms.
Also, its semiconductor business reported solid earnings bolstered by U.S. sanctions on Huawei, one of its largest customers and its global competitor.
Huawei bought a large number of chips in mid-August, before the U.S. export restrictions took effect on Sept. 15, resulting in a sales growth of 4 percent for DRAM and 13 percent for NAND flash.
And with the latest accomplishment, what possible growth opportunities and risks lie ahead for Samsung?
Market analysts say Samsung will enjoy a 5G network business expansion as at least 14 countries are currently reassessing or reviewing their reliance on Huawei's radio access network (RAN).
Given Huawei's weaknesses include its inability to access key technology and foreign markets, Samsung can thrive as long as it secures the supply chain, which seems quite viable.
The firm's 5G business has little exposure to China, the center of the GVC.
Its production disruption risk is well-diversified all across Korea, Vietnam, and the U.S.
The expansion's success will hinge largely on which firms it chooses as 5G equipment suppliers, a decision industry watchers say requires a judgment call.
Now, let's turn to Samsung Electronics' major local competitor. Did LG Electronics report solid third-quarter earnings as well?
LG Elec. projected its operating profit would come to 959 billion won, up 22.7 percent from a year earlier.
Its sales came to 16.9 trillion won in the same period, up 7.8 percent year-on-year.
Both the operating profit and sales reported the highest quarterly figures to date.
The firm, like Samsung, saw robust sales of its home appliances and TVs thanks to the pandemic-induced growing stay-at-home trend.