Posco Q1 OP up 120% on yr to best quarterly results in 10 years

South Korea’s steel giant Posco reported doubled operating income from a year ago to its 10-year quarterly best in January-March period on spike in prices from building and manufacturing activities around the globe to restore economies after Covid-19 havoc.

In disclosure Monday for the guidance on its first quarter ended March, the steelmaker projected a consolidated operating profit at 1.55 trillion won ($1.39 billion), up 79.8 percent on quarter and 120.1 percent on year.

Its performance beat market consensus of 1.39 trillion won in income compiled by Yonhap Infomax. It marked the highest quarterly profit since the second quarter of 2011.

Sales were projected at 16.07 trillion won, gaining 5.3 percent on quarter and 10.5 percent on year. Its net profit came to 1.13 trillion won, more than doubling from 434.7 billion won a year ago.

Steel demand surged by heavy infrastructure projects across the world and commerce recovery. Posco raised the prices of its steel products amid strong global demand for steel used in cars, ships and construction.

Non-steel sector also performed well across the board.

Trading, energy, construction and chemicals affiliates all reported increases. Strong sales of high-end ‘World Top Premium (WTP)’ products also helped shore up the bottom line, it added.

Posco’s separate sales and operating profit for the three months reached 7.8 trillion won and 1.07 trillion won, respectively.

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