Hyundai quarterly profit surges as favorable currency rates offset sales decline

SEOUL -- Hyundai Motor posted a better-than-expected 19 percent rise in quarterly profit as favorable exchange rates more than made up for higher raw material costs and a drop in vehicle sales caused by the prolonged global chip shortage.

The company's global car sales slid nearly 10 percent in the first quarter and Hyundai warned it expects further supply chain disruptions due to the lockdowns in several Chinese cities.

Like other automakers, Hyundai has raised prices to cope with soaring raw material expenses and logistics costs such as sourcing chips, and analysts expect further vehicle price hikes.

Net profit climbed to 1.6 trillion won ($1.3 billion) in January-March. Analysts expected a 1.4 trillion won profit, according to a Refinitiv SmartEstimate.

"Robust sales of SUV and Genesis luxury models, declining incentives, and a favorable foreign exchange environment helped lift revenue ... despite the slowdown in sales volume," Hyundai said in a statement.

The South Korean won was nearly 7 percent weaker against the U.S. dollar in the period, boosting the value of earnings garnered abroad.

Hyundai, which suspended operations at its St. Petersburg plant in Russia on March 1 and is only selling remaining inventory in the country, said it was looking to minimize costs there by cutting incentive and marketing expenses.

"We will consider delaying executions of planned investments this year and new car launches in Russia to enhance our Russia operation's profitability," Executive Vice President Seo Gang Hyun told an earnings call.

Hyundai and affiliate Kia combined have the second-largest share of the Russian market after Renault Group with its AvtoVAZ subsdiary. Hyundai's Russian sales account for around 5 percent of its overall sales.

Hyundai has not decided when to resume operations. At present, no major automaker has announced a complete withdrawal from the Russian market.