performance. Samsung also said that it expects its semiconductor business to encounter great uncertainties throughout the year. This can also make it difficult for anyone to predict future performance.
The outlook of the world’s biggest electronics manufacturers has also reflected on the uncertainties roiling global trade due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff war, which is coming to a head after General Motors pulled their annual forecast.
The memory chipmaker has also reported a growth in its first-quarter operating profit as customers are concerned about the U.S. tariffs, hurting to purchase smartphones as well as commodity chips, which have the role of mitigating the impact of their underperforming AI chip business.
It was also reported that 4.68 billion in operating profit were made in the first quarter, ending in March, meaning up to 1.2% from the company’s earlier estimate and in line with its earlier estimate. It is also safe to say that this represents one of the worst-performing periods for Samsung.
The US tariffs on Chinese goods, as well as the restrictions that came on AI chip sales to China, dampened Samsung’s market. Trump’s “ reciprocal” tariffs have mostly been suspended until July, threatening to hit dozens of countries, including Vietnam and South Korea, smartphones, and displays.
Samsung also said that it was considering the relocation of the production of TVS and home appliances in response to tariffs. Kim Jae-June, a Samsung vice president in the memory division, said in an earnings call that “We believe that demand uncertainties are growing in the second half as a result of recent changes in tariff policies in major countries, and strengthening of AI chip export controls,”.
A senior analyst from NH Investment & Securities said, “With pull-in demand still ongoing and macro uncertainty lingering, the explanation for the 'first-half low, second-half rebound' outlook was lacking.”
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