Seoul: Lotte Fine Chemical Co. on Thursday reported its third-quarter net loss of 71.6 billion won (US$51.9 million), remaining in the red compared with a year ago. The company disclosed in a regulatory filing that its operating profit for the July-September period fell 70.7 percent year-on-year to 10.3 billion won. Despite the loss, revenue saw a 4.8 percent increase, reaching 420.4 billion won. According to Yonhap News Agency, the reported loss was 585.8 percent higher than the average estimate, based on a survey conducted by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data arm of Yonhap News Agency. This significant deviation from expectations highlights the challenges faced by Lotte Fine Chemical in maintaining profitability amidst varying market conditions. The company continues to navigate these financial hurdles as it plans for future quarters.