"Asustek Computer has announced consolidated revenues of NT$78.26 billion (US$2.39 billion) for the third quarter this year, while net profit after tax was NT$6.38 billion, an increase of 13% on quarter, but a drop of 14.2% on year. Combined net profit after tax for the first three quarters of 2008 reached NT$19.25 billion, a drop of 8.4% on year, according to company president Jerry Shen.

Gross margin of the company's motherboard products maintained at 25-30% in the third quarter, while graphics cards were at 15-20% and notebooks 10-15%, noted Shen, adding that because future demand is still unclear plus the likelihood of further currency exchange losses, revenues performance in the fourth quarter should hold level on quarter, while profit will shrink slightly. The company is still uncertain about the outlook for 2009, Shen admitted.

Asustek shipped around 11 million own-brand motherboards in the first half of this year and around six million in the third quarter, the company expects shipments in the fourth quarter to drop 10% sequentially to 5.4 million units to reach an annual shipment of 23 million units.

The company shipped 2.5 million notebooks in the first half of this year, 1.7 million units in the third quarter and is expecting to ship 1.9 million units in the fourth quarter, bringing the company's annual notebook shipments in 2008 to at least six million units. Eee PC shipments in the third quarter were 1.7 million units and shipments are expected to surge to 1.8 million units in the fourth quarter, achieving the company's goal of shipping five million units in 2008."