LX하우시스 CI. (사진=LX하우시스)

 

[Alpha Biz=(Chicago) Reporter Paul Lee] There are mixed feelings about the interior industry's performance in the first quarter of this year. While the business is not picking up due to the sluggish real estate market, LX Hausys saw its profits rise a lot as sales increased in next-generation businesses such as automotive materials.

According to the industry on the 8th, LX Hausys achieved sales of 840.4 billion won and operating profit of 16.1 billion won in the first quarter of this year. Sales fell 2.4% from the same period last year, but operating profit more than doubled. Net profit also turned to a surplus of 4.6 billion won.

In particular, the auto parts business turned to the black, leading to earnings improvement. Sales of niche products such as engineer stones, flooring materials, and industrial films have also increased significantly. On top of that, prices of major raw materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) have fallen, resulting in greater profits.

In the second quarter of this year, LX Hausys will be more profitable by ▲ continuing to expand overseas sales ▲ strengthening the domestic B2C market by increasing sales of differentiated high value-added products such as high insulation, eco-friendly, etc. ▲ cost reduction and organizational operation efficiency.

Hanssem, on the other hand, saw its sales fall 5.7 percent on-year to 469.3 billion won in the first quarter of this year. Both operating profit (-15.7 billion won) and net profit (-14.2 billion won) turned to deficit. Hyundai Livart, an interior company affiliated with Hyundai Department Store Group, has not yet announced its tentative first-quarter earnings, but the stock market expects to only avoid a deficit.

 

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