India sales surpass ₩2.28 trillion with first-ever ₩200 billion net profit, while new plants and cutting-edge tech boost global expansion
LG Electronics has achieved its strongest half-year results in history in both India and the Global South markets, reinforcing its status as a global leader in manufacturing and technology.
According to the company’s semi-annual report released on August 14, LG’s India subsidiary posted ₩2.2829 trillion in sales in the first half of the year, surpassing the ₩2 trillion mark for the second consecutive year. Net profit hit ₩209.7 billion, the first time it has ever exceeded ₩200 billion in a half-year period — a milestone reached 28 years after entering the Indian market. Both figures represent record-breaking half-year performance.
LG has built a “fully localized business structure” in India, encompassing sales, manufacturing, and R&D, solidifying its premium brand image. Tailoring products to the local lifestyle, the company holds the No. 1 market share in major appliances, including TVs (25.8%), washing machines (33.5%), refrigerators (28.7%), and air conditioners (19.4%).
The momentum extends beyond India to the rest of the Global South, including Asia and Africa. Sales in these regions totaled ₩10.9525 trillion in the first half, up 3.3% year-on-year.
The company is also expanding production capacity. In June, it broke ground on its third home appliance factory in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, India. Air conditioner production is set to start at the new facility by late 2025, followed by washing machines, refrigerators, and compressor lines by 2029. In Brazil, LG is building a new plant in Fazenda Rio Grande, its second local site after Manaus.
Despite rising logistics costs, LG is ramping up investments in future growth engines. In the second quarter, it invested ₩2.567 billion in “Mirae Asset AI Investment Fund No. 1” and ₩137 million in U.S. robotics firm Assured Robot Intelligence. These moves aim to strengthen AI technology networks and advance precision control-based robotics software development.
Meanwhile, the company’s average employee salary in the first half was ₩59 million, down 3.7% from a year earlier. CEO Cho Joo-wan earned ₩1.574 billion in total compensation, a 28.8% decrease year-on-year. HS Business Division President Ryu Jae-cheol received the highest pay among executives at ₩1.86 billion. Former President Park Il-pyung, who retired, received ₩2.711 billion, including severance pay.
Industry analysts view LG’s performance as the result of a dual strategy — consolidating its dominance in traditional home appliances while strategically expanding in emerging markets and investing in future-focused sectors like AI and robotics. The company plans to continue building its presence in the Global South while reinforcing its foothold in advanced technologies.