Seoul: Samsung SDI Co. on Thursday reported its second-quarter net income of 471.6 billion won (US$327 million), shifting from a loss of 166.7 billion won a year earlier. Operating income for the April-June period was 203.8 billion won, compared with a loss of 397.8 billion won a year ago, the company that makes Li-ion batteries and electronic materials said in a regulatory filing. Sales rose 18.5 percent to 3.76 trillion won.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the earnings exceeded market expectations, with the average estimate of net profit by analysts standing at 105.7 billion won, based on a survey conducted by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency. The significant profit turnaround underscores the company's strong performance in the Li-ion battery and electronic materials sectors.