(LEAD) LG Electronics Q3 operating profit up 13.5 pct on solid home appliance sales

By Kim Han-joo

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- LG Electronics Inc. reported on Wednesday that its third-quarter operating profit had increased by 13.5 percent compared to the previous year, thanks to a solid performance in its home appliance sector. The company estimated its operating profit for the July-September period at 781.8 billion won (US$583.8 million), according to a regulatory filing.

While this figure was 17 percent lower than the 941.7 billion-won market consensus predicted by Yonhap Infomax, a financial data firm affiliated with Yonhap News Agency, LG Electronics' sales grew by 8.9 percent from the previous year, reaching 23.82 trillion won. The company's net profit was not disclosed. Despite challenging circumstances, such as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, LG Electronics' core businesses, including its home appliance and vehicle component divisions, managed to maintain their strong market positions and continued to boost sales through their unique product offerings.

The company's profitability also saw a significant double-digit improvement compared to the previous year, with its TV business showing notable gains in profitability.