UMS Integration Q1 earnings nearly flat at S$9.8 million
[SINGAPORE] Semiconductor player UMS Integration on Friday (May 9) reported profit of S$9.8 million for the first quarter ended Mar 31, 2025, almost unchanged from the group's profit in the corresponding year-ago period.
This translates to earnings per share of S$0.0138, down from S$0.0141 a year earlier.
The group declared an interim dividend of S$0.01 per share for the period under review, lower than the S$0.012 in Q1 FY2024.
Revenue for the period climbed 7 per cent year on year to S$57.7 million, from S$54 million.
The higher revenue was driven by better performances from both the group's semiconductor and aerospace businesses, which grew 6 per cent and 22 per cent, respectively.
However, this was offset by a 12 per cent decline in its others segment, as its tooling and material distribution business was affected by the prevailing soft market conditions.
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
Sign Up
Sign Up
UMS chair and chief executive Andy Luong said the group's sales in Malaysia 'almost tripled on the back of strong orders from its new key customer'.
The Malaysian market delivered a 287 per cent sales surge to S$9.4 million in Q1 FY2025, from S$2.4 million in FY2024, as the group continued to ramp up production of semiconductor components for a new major customer.
'We are especially encouraged by the strong order flow from our new key customer as it seeks to divert its US supply source to Asia,' said Luong.
Shares of UMS ended unchanged at S$1.05 on Friday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Straits Times
As US tightens visa rules, Chinese students may turn to Malaysia
(From left) Chinese students Mr Li, Mr Pei and Ms Lou at the USM campus in Penang. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK As US tightens visa rules, Chinese students may turn to Malaysia GEORGE TOWN, Penang - President Donald Trump's order to tighten visa rules in the United States for students from China may benefit universities in Malaysia. Mr Pei Qi, a 42-year-old English teacher from China who is pursuing a postgraduate degree at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), said he has noticed more of his students in China considering Malaysia over the US. 'Many of my students who initially planned to go to the US are now considering Malaysia for further studies. 'One of them gave up on her US application because of visa delays and uncertainty, and then applied to Monash University Malaysia and USM,' he said. Mr Pei said that the student and her mother visited Penang and were drawn to the island's safety, lifestyle and international feel. 'They were worried about whether they could get into a public university here, but the affordability and global rankings of Malaysian institutions have prompted them to apply,' he said, adding that Malaysia's strong ties with China is an important factor. 'Malaysia takes education seriously. I see effort going into improving curriculum, research and global rankings,' Mr Pei added. He recalled seeing China's content creators on Douyin (China's version of TikTok) mentioning that Malaysia has become the seventh most popular study abroad destination for students from China. Mr Pei said the United States' new policy against students from China had affected the global standing of the US. 'I see real, long-term damage to America's reputation as the world's leader,' he said. 'The global landscape has changed. The US is no longer the only option for high-quality, English-medium education. 'It's sad to lose access to the US, but it's not the end of the road.' First-year Bachelor of Arts in English student Lou Xiaoxiao, 20, said studying in the US is still a dream for many from her homeland. 'It's still the top choice for a lot of us because of its academic resources and reputation. At the moment, I can say Malaysia is more of an option,' she said. Ms Lou added that visa issues and parents' concerns about global tensions do play a role and more families are looking at safety and cost when making decisions. She feels that China's families are prioritising 'cost-effectiveness' and 'a sense of security' in their decision-making regarding their children's studies overseas. Another student, Mr Li Hehe, 25, said despite the visa crackdown, he felt most Chinese families still hope to send their children to the US, believing strongly in the value of an American education. 'I've worked in the study abroad consultancy field. Students and parents who choose the US believe in it deeply. 'Even though the US might be the most expensive option, the choice of the US often reflects a serious commitment,' said Mr Li, who is in his final year of a Bachelor's degree in urban and regional planning at USM. On May 28, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that some Chinese students would have their visas revoked, especially those studying in sensitive fields or linked to the Chinese Communist Party. China is the second-largest source of international students in the US after India. More than 270,000 students from China enrolled in American institutions in the 2023–2024 academic year, about a quarter of all international students there. USM lecturer Dr Kamaruzzaman Abdul Manan, from the School of Communication, said Malaysian universities should seize the opportunity. 'China sends more students abroad than any other country. Even a 10% to 15% drop in those heading to the US means thousands will look for other destinations,' he said. He added that Malaysia's strong education system and position in Asean made it an ideal choice for students from China. 'Having more students from China can raise a university's profile, attract funding and increase global partnerships,' he said. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Business Times
10 hours ago
- Business Times
US, China to hold trade talks on Jun 9 in London; Trump says Xi agreed to let rare earth minerals flow to US
[WASHINGTON] US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to let rare earth minerals and magnets flow to the United States, a move that could lower tensions between the world's biggest economies. Asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One whether Xi had agreed to do so, Trump replied: 'Yes, he did.' The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump's comment came one day after a rare call with Xi aimed at resolving trade tensions that have been brewing over the topic for weeks. At that time, Trump said there had been 'a very positive conclusion' to the talks, adding that 'there should no longer be any questions respecting the complexity of Rare Earth products.' In another sign of easing tensions over the issue, China has granted temporary export licenses to rare-earth suppliers of the top three US automakers, two sources familiar with the matter said. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Trump on Friday also said three of his cabinet officials will meet with representatives of China in London on June 9 to discuss a trade deal. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will attend from the US side. 'The meeting should go very well,' Trump wrote. The countries struck an agreement on May 12 in Geneva, Switzerland, to roll back for 90 days most of the triple-digit, tit-for-tat tariffs they had placed on each other since Trump's January inauguration. Financial markets that had worried about trade disruptions rallied on the news. But China's decision in April to suspend exports of a wide range of critical minerals and magnets has continued to disrupt supplies needed by automakers, computer chip manufacturers and military contractors around the world. Trump had accused China of violating the Geneva agreement and ordered curbs on chip-design software and other shipments to China. Beijing rejected the claim and threatened counter measures. Rare earths and other critical minerals are a source of leverage for China as Trump could come under domestic political pressure if economic growth sags because companies cannot make mineral-powered products. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has repeatedly threatened an array of punitive measures on trading partners, only to revoke some of them at the last minute. The on-again, off-again approach has baffled world leaders and spooked business executives. REUTERS
Business Times
11 hours ago
- Business Times
US, China to hold trade talks on June 9 in London; Trump says Xi agreed to let rare earth minerals flow to US
[WASHINGTON] US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to let rare earth minerals and magnets flow to the United States, a move that could lower tensions between the world's biggest economies. Asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One whether Xi had agreed to do so, Trump replied: 'Yes, he did.' The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump's comment came one day after a rare call with Xi aimed at resolving trade tensions that have been brewing over the topic for weeks. At that time, Trump said there had been 'a very positive conclusion' to the talks, adding that 'there should no longer be any questions respecting the complexity of Rare Earth products.' In another sign of easing tensions over the issue, China has granted temporary export licenses to rare-earth suppliers of the top three US automakers, two sources familiar with the matter said. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Trump on Friday also said three of his cabinet officials will meet with representatives of China in London on June 9 to discuss a trade deal. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will attend from the US side. 'The meeting should go very well,' Trump wrote. The countries struck an agreement on May 12 in Geneva, Switzerland, to roll back for 90 days most of the triple-digit, tit-for-tat tariffs they had placed on each other since Trump's January inauguration. Financial markets that had worried about trade disruptions rallied on the news. But China's decision in April to suspend exports of a wide range of critical minerals and magnets has continued to disrupt supplies needed by automakers, computer chip manufacturers and military contractors around the world. Trump had accused China of violating the Geneva agreement and ordered curbs on chip-design software and other shipments to China. Beijing rejected the claim and threatened counter measures. Rare earths and other critical minerals are a source of leverage for China as Trump could come under domestic political pressure if economic growth sags because companies cannot make mineral-powered products. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has repeatedly threatened an array of punitive measures on trading partners, only to revoke some of them at the last minute. The on-again, off-again approach has baffled world leaders and spooked business executives. REUTERS
