PROFIT FIRST:The computer manufacturer said it was reducing shipments to some emerging markets not due to soft demand, but because of foreign exchange volatility

Taipei Times
Date: , Sep 10, 2015
By: Lauly Li  /  Staff reporter

Asustek Computer Inc (華碩) yesterday cut its notebook computer shipment forecast for this quarter, saying it is reducing sales exposure to some emerging markets in a bid to prevent possible foreign-exchange losses due to currency volatility.

The company forecast that its notebook shipments would grow 6.04 percent sequentially to 4.56 million units from the previous quarter’s 4.3 million units. That compares with its previous estimate of an 11.62 percent increase to 4.8 million units.

“The decision to cut shipments to some regions was not due to soft demand, but because of drastic changes in foreign currencies in the middle of last month,” Asustek chief financial officer Nick Wu (吳長榮) said by telephone.

“Maintaining profitability is the company’s top priority,” he added.

Asustek in July slashed its full-year shipment target for notebook computers from 22.8 million units to 20 million amid concern over weak demand in the PC market.

Wu declined to respond to questions over whether Asustek would revise downward its annual notebook shipment target again. n    [FULL  STORY]