SEOUL

South Korean appliance giant LG Electronics saw net profits more than quadruple in the first quarter of the year, it said Thursday, on the back of strong sales in Asia and Latin America.

The firm’s net profit in the January-March period reached 835.7 billion won (Dh2.71 billion, $739.4 million), up 322 per cent from 198.1 billion won in the same period last year, the company said in a statement. The company is South Korea’s second-largest electronics firm after Samsung, producing a range of products, from mobile phones to televisions and home appliances including air conditioners, washers and refrigerators.

Operating profit during the period was 921.5 billion won, up 82.4 per cent. LG attributed the performance to strong sales of home appliances — especially at home, across Asia and Latin America.