SEOUL, KOREA - Dongbu Hitek, a specialist in memories and system semiconductor, is happy with the robust growth of the Chinese smartphone market. Since its inception in 1997, Dongbu Hitek has remained in the red but now expects the situation to reverse soon.
A company official said, "As the sales of mid- and low-priced smartphones are growing at a rapid pace in China, our receipts of semiconductor orders from China have registered a two-fold growth every year since 2011."
Dongbu Hitek's sales related to Chinese smartphones, which remained at 30 billion won in 2011, shot up to more than 70 billion won last year and are expected to exceed 150 billion won this year.
The capacity utilization ratio of Dongbu Hitek's Bucheon plant rose to 85 percent last month from 70 percent in late 2012 and is expected to rise to 100 percent in the second half of this year.
Smartphone sales in China rose to 170 million units in 2012 from 100 million units in 2011 and are likely to pass the 200-million mark this year. Against this backdrop, Dongbu Hitek is expected to be able to turn to the black this year, first in its history.
