The Semiconductor business registered 2.80 trillion won in operating profits on consolidated revenue of 13.21 trillion won for the quarter.
In the fourth quarter, weak demand across certain markets, including PCs, impacted the Memory business’s overall revenue, but sales of mobile and server DRAM were solid.
Growing demand for solution products helped lift NAND demand for high-density mobile devices and enterprise SSD for servers and PCs that require greater storage.
System LSI’s profits improved QoQ, driven by the 14-nm foundry business, despite weaker seasonal demand for SoC and LSI (Large-Scale Integration) chips.
Looking ahead in 2016, demand for memory chips will increase due to growth in contents stored in high density servers featuring DRAM and SSD, as well as smartphones with more advanced features.
Samsung will maintain its leadership in the market and drive sales with differentiated, high value-added products. To this end, the company will expand 20-nm process migration and develop 10-nm class process in DRAM. For NAND, production of third-generation V-NAND and SSD products will be expanded to enhance competitiveness. In System LSI, Samsung will continue pursuing customer diversification and expanding its product line-up to achieve long-term growth.
Demand for memory chips in the first quarter, which is a traditionally weak season, will be soft but Samsung will focus on profitability by lifting sales of high density DRAM and NAND storage products, and strengthening cost competitiveness by expanding 20-nm DRAM and
third-generation V-NAND production.
Moreover, Samsung will further boost product competitiveness by beginning mass production of second-generation 14-nm process and supplying chips for new premium smartphones