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# The Electronic Times
# October 05, 2004
# By Park Seung-jung



Three major mobile phone makers in Korea, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and Pantech affiliates, plan to raise export of their mobile phones by up to 50% next year.

Industry sources said on October 4 that these three manufacturers would push aggressive export drive next year in Europe, Latin America and Asia. With a goal to supply some 200 million units combined, these companies will put focus on supplying middle and high-end products adopting a variety of designs and cutting-edge technologies.

Samsung Electronics will reportedly supply some 100 million units of handsets in overseas markets next year. If this goal is achieved, Samsung Electronics will be able to vie with Nokia for the top place. Earlier this year, the company set a goal to supply 65 million units this year, but it recently raised the yearly target to 86 million units buoyed by high popularity of its products in the world market.

With a goal to grab the fourth post outpacing Sony-Ericsson, LG Electronics plans to supply more than 60 million units of its mobile handsets next year, an increase of 50% over this year. The company also intends to maintain leadership in the market for WCDMA phones.

"We aim to rise to third post in rank in 2006 by outstripping Motorola, making a big push into Europe, China and other Asian countries. In 2007, we intend to supply 100 million units to overseas markets," said an executive at LG Electronics.

Pantech affiliates, which revised their annual sales target from 17 million units of mobile phones to 20 million units this year, aim to ship at least 30 million units in export markets next year. They intend to rise to fifth place next year by bolstering export strategies in markets in Eastern Europe including Russia and Western Europe.

"The company supplied more products to overseas markets than home market by shipping competitive handsets this year. We will promote leading-edge quality of mobile phones in the world market next year," said a manager at Pantech.

"Domestic handset makers may have to revise their strategies if Nokia and other rivals leverage price competitiveness, and it is appropriate for them to push aggressive export strategies to take leadership in the world market," said an industry observer.