Published in Mobiles

Nokia says chip shortage is easing

by on21 July 2022


Good numbers in its operating report too 

Former rubber boot maker Nokia reported on  quarterly operating profit ahead of market expectations, boosted by strong demand for 5G gear, and sees signs of a global chip shortage easing.

A semiconductor shortage that began around the height of the pandemic in 2020 has affected a range of industries, including telecoms. Nokia said it expects the pressure to ease through the second half of 2022 and the first half of next year.

Chief Executive Pekka Lundmark said: "The overall direction in the semiconductor industry is positive at the moment, but we did continue to have constraints in the second quarter. Our order book would have enabled a faster growth had there been more components available."

Supply-chain disruptions also led to increased costs, eroding margins, and forcing companies to increase prices.

Demand for chips is expected to fall later this year as smartphone and PC sales cool, increasing supply to other industries.

Nokia's second-quarter comparable operating profit rose to 714 million euros ($729.71 million) from 682 million last year, beating the 636.52 million euro mean forecast.

Lundmark said Nokia is passing on the cost increases to all new contracts, but it is hard to do that for existing clients.

Nokia's net sales grew 11 per cent to 5.87 billion euros, beating estimates of 5.60 billion.

The company, which said in April it was pulling out of Russia following the Ukraine invasion, is continuing with its exit formalities.

"The clear majority of the exit will have been done by the end of the year. We are in discussions now with our customers there on how to do all the practical things but all our main offices in Russia have delivered notices to our people," Lundmark said.

 

Last modified on 21 July 2022
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