RPT-Samsung SDI Q3 profit above fcast on battery sales

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SEOUL Oct 20 (Reuters) - Samsung SDI (006400.KS) posted a 10 percent rise in quarterly operating profit on Tuesday, as robust growth in rechargeable battery sales offset weaker prices and losses from its plasma panel business narrowed.

Samsung SDI reported an 88.1 billion won ($75.5 million) operating profit in the third quarter to September, above a 66.3 billion won profit forecast by analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

The consolidated-basis result compared with operating profits of 80.1 billion won a year earlier and 48.4 billion won in the second quarter, and marked a sharp improvement from a 76 billion won operating loss in January-March.

While the short-term profit momentum is limited due to its unprofitable plasma business and competition in lithium-ion batteries, the South Korean company is set to become a key beneficiary of future growth in electric car batteries and new organic displays for mobile phones.

Its shares more than doubled this year, leading the KOSPI's .KS11 47 percent gain. ($1=1167.0 Won) (Reporting by Rhee So-eui; Editing by Jonathan Hopfner)