Japanese high-tech giant Toshiba yesterday forecast a wider-than-expected loss of US$214 million for the first six months to September, battered by a slump in digital products sales.
Toshiba's group net loss is projected at ¥25 billion (US$214 million) for the first half, compared with its earlier estimate of a ¥15 billion loss.
Toshiba doubled its estimated pretax loss to ¥20 billion from ¥10 billion and said sales would amount to ¥2.60 trillion, down from an earlier forecast of ¥2.64 trillion.
"While the electronic devices and social infrastructure segments are performing favorably this does not compensate for worsening results in the digital products segment," the company said in a statement.
The company, which is expected to return to the black for the year to March next year, also revised downward its full-year net profit estimate to ¥35 billion from the ¥40 billion forecast earlier.
Its pretax profit for the current fiscal year is now seen at ¥90 billion, unchanged from its earlier estimate, while the sales forecast was downgraded to ¥5.65 trillion from ¥5.70 trillion.
At a news conference, Toshiba announced a plan to boost personal computer output in Asia.
"To enhance overseas [research and development] capabilities, the number of engineers at Toshiba's plant in Hangzhou, China, will be increased to 150 from 100," the company said in a statement.
"Toshiba will promote cost-efficient production for the global market by raising monthly output [of personal computer] at its Philippines plant from 180,000 units to 200,000 units in the second half of fiscal 2003," it said.
"We will push production at Hangzhou from 70,000 units to 120,000 units in the same period," Toshiba added.
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