Listed firms count costs

More than one-third of companies listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange have been damaged by Tuesday's powerful earthquake. According to a preliminary survey, the construction industry was the hardest-hit in terms of assets lost. The electronics industry is forecast to suffer the highest losses in revenue and operating income. On the bright side, however, nearly half of all listed companies have not been affected by the earthquake.

According to information provided by the exchange, among 455 listed companies, 163 reported losses due to the quake. The total loss in revenue (營業額) is expected to be NT$7.6 billion. A total of 203 companies said that they were unaffected by the quake, and 89 have yet to report. The total revenue losses of all listed companies is expected to exceed NT$10 billion.

The operating income (營業損益) of the 163 listed companies is expected to shoulder a loss of NT1.68 billion, and estimated loss on assets (資產損失) has reached NT$1.15 billion.

The highest loss on assets has been reported by the construction industry at NT$3.7 billion; the electrical and mechanical industries NT$2 billion; the electronics industry NT$1.13 billion.

The 40 listed electronics companies have reported a drop in revenue of NT$2.99 billion. Since there are 50 listed electronics companies which have not re-leased statements, the amount could be significantly higher.

The 14 financial and insurance companies reported a NT$2.61 billion loss in revenue, and 34 companies have not yet reported.

The largest loss on operating income also came from the electronics industry -- 40 listed companies expect a decrease in operating income of NT$1.13 billion. The second-highest loss in operating income comes from the textile and fibers industry: 25 listed companies reported a NT$1.47 billion decrease in operating income, with 28 not yet reporting.

The plastics industry also reported a NT$1.25 billion decrease in operating income from 11 listed companies, with 10 yet to report.

In the Hsinchu Science Park (新竹科學園區), 10 listed companies have reported a loss in revenue of NT$1.24 billion and a NT$850 million loss in operating income. There are 21 electronics companies in the park.

In the OTC market, according to the Securities & Futures Commission, 33 companies have been damaged by the quake. The total revenue loss is expected at NT$862 million, while the loss in assets is estimated at NT$81 million. There are 130 OTC companies not affected by the quake, while 65 OTC companies have not disclosed their possible loss.