Samsung SDI achieves record-high profits in Q3 2022, thanks to robust EV battery sales

The South Korean firm's regulatory filing revealed that its net profit for Q3 2022 was KRW 638.3 billion (around $451.5 million), up 51.8% from the previous year. Its operating profit during the third quarter was KRW 565.9 billion (around $400.3 million), a rise of 51.5% compared to Q3 2021. Its earnings and net profits were much higher than what analysts had predicted. This excellent performance was due to the lucrative battery business, which generated KRW 4.83 trillion in sales, a rise of 76.4% compared to last year.

Samsung SDI's premium Gen. 5 batteries improved the company's profitability and bottom line, thanks to a surge in demand for EV batteries. Sales of ESS (Energy Storage Systems) batteries also improved, especially in Europe. Samsung says that it expects business to improve further in Q4 2022 as it expects new EVs that use its Gen. 5 batteries to be released by the end of this year.

While the company expects sales of ESS batteries to improve as well, its electronics material business saw a decline of 23.6%. Its sales were KRW 534 billion (around $378.3 million), and the operating profit was KRW 81.1 billion (around $57.3 million). That's a 53% drop compared to Q3 2021, as the demand for display components fell.