Samsung forecasts a 25 per cent year-on-year rise in operating profit for Q3 2013, to a record KRW10.1 trillion ($9.4 billion), helped by higher chip prices and its dominance in the smartphone market.

The performance is better than expected. A Thomson Reuters poll of 34 analysts gave an average operating profit forecast of KRW9.96 trillion for the quarter.

“The company is doing a phenomenal job of continuing its growth rate,” said Andrew Milroy, an analyst with consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, quoted by the BBC. “One would have expected that its growth rate may be hit by the emergence of other cheaper mobile phone makers.”

“The semiconductor and mobile divisions may have performed better than expected in the third quarter, helping Samsung post better-than-expected earnings,” said Choi Do-yeon, an analyst at Kyobo Securities, cited by Reuters.

As well as top-end products, such as its Galaxy S4, Samsung has also introduced low-cost smartphones targeted at customers in emerging markets, such as India and China.

Samsung, points out Reuters, has reported record earnings every quarter since 2012 (except the first three months of 2013).

The South Korean firm estimated Q3 sales will rise to KRW59 trillion (versus a market forecast of KRW60 trillion). Sales were KRW52 trillion during Q3 2012.

Samsung will release its full quarterly results on 25 October.