Tokyo, Sept 17: Electronics conglomerate Toshiba raised its half-year net loss estimate by 67 per cent on Tuesday in the face of heavy price competition for notebook personal computers (PCs). To improve the flagging business, Toshiba, Japan`s largest semiconductor maker, said it would increase PC output in cost-efficient China and the Philippines, while raising the ratio of PC outsourcing to 30 per cent from 20 per cent in the October to March period.
For the April to September period, Toshiba said it now expected a group net loss of 25 billion yen ($212.9 million), revising up its April estimate of a 15 billion yen loss. It made a loss of 26.4 billion yen in the same period a year ago. Toshiba has been spearheading efforts to overhaul the company`s embattled notebook PC business after sales fell 12 per cent in the latest quarter, mainly as a result of price competition from Hewlett-Packard .
Operating income at Toshiba`s digital products division, which includes notebook PCs and TVs, fell 20 billion yen over the April-June quarter as sales slid seven percent. Bureau Report