Dongkuk Steel reported third-quarter standalone sales of 932.3 billion Korean won and operating profit of 29.9 billion Korean won on October 30, up 21.2% and 22%, respectively, from the same period last year. The results slightly exceeded the securities industry's 24.4 billion-won operating-profit forecast, although net profit fell 38% to 6.2 billion won. Stronger production and sales of shaped steel products for semiconductor factories and AI data centers supported the improvement. The company expanded export capabilities through CCZ certification at its Incheon plant and export specifications for H-beam steel at its Pohang plant, while developing titanium-based clad steel and improving productivity in its steel plate business. Seasonal factors caused sales and operating profit to fall 6.4% and 34.4%, respectively, from the previous quarter. Dongkuk CM posted third-quarter standalone sales of 579.9 billion won, an operating loss of 6 billion won and a net loss of 36.7 billion won. Its sales increased 19.5% year-on-year, but exchange-rate movements, higher raw-material costs and low-priced Chinese imports kept the company in the red. Dongkuk CM said it plans to adjust its export ratio in the fourth quarter and increase sales of high-value-added products.