Osaka, Japan — Sales of large-screen-size LCD color televisions and camera-equipped mobile phones lifted Sharp’s fiscal six month sales in its audio/visual and communication group, namely consumer electronics, by 15.4 percent, hitting $4.3 billion, up from $3.8 billion.
Sales of high-value-added LCDs resulted in revenue of $2.6 billion for the first half, ended Sept. 30, which was 41.1 percent higher than the $1.8 billion recorded in the first half of the previous fiscal year.
Sales of LCD color TVs over 10 inches nearly doubled in the first half, reaching $1.2 billion, up from last year’s $638.9 million. Mobile phone sales in the first six months increased 22.6 percent, hitting $1.9 billion, compared with $1.6 billion in the same period a year earlier.
First half operating income for Sharp’s A/V segment increased 21.3 percent, moving up to $141.3 million, compared with $117.9 million in the same six months in 2003.
The LCD category operating income took a giant leap in the first six months, climbing 59.7 percent to $280.9 million, up from $175.8 million in the year-ago period.
Sales of LCD components increased 52.3 percent in the first half, reaching $3.4 billion from a year-earlier $2.2 billion.
First-half Sharp sales to the Americas climbed to $1.8 billion from $1.4 billion, while overall overseas sales in the first six months increased to $5.6 billion from a year-over-year $5.1 billion. The company did not break out second quarter financials.
Sales of LCD TVs, mobile phones and display panels boosted six-month consolidated Sharp sales by 14.9 percent to $11.8 billion from $10.3 billion. Operating income for the six months rose 32.4 percent to $728.9 million, compared with last year’s $550.4 million. Net income enjoyed a 40.7 percent rise, moving up to $369.4 million in the first half, compared with a year-ago $262.6 million.
