Over half of the top 100 South Korean companies saw their operating profit fall in the first nine months of this year as major exporters grappled with global economic slowdown and tougher competition in major markets, data showed Monday.

The combined revenue of 100 companies listed on the KOSPI market amounted to 654.7 trillion won ($588.2 billion) in the January-September period.

That was down 1.6 percent from a year earlier, according to the electronic disclosure data compiled by market researcher Chaebul.com.

A total of 55 companies posted a drop in their operating profit during the period, with their combined profit retreating by 15.1 percent to 35.64 trillion won, data showed. Their average profit was down 0.9 percent to 6.5 percent.

Samsung Electronics Co., the nation’ largest company by market capitalization, saw its operating profit tumble by 21.6 percent in the first three quarters, and top automaker Hyundai Motors Co.’s earnings edged down 0.9 percent during the period.

Hit hard by faltering global demand, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., the world‘s No. 1 shipbuilder, and its smaller affiliate, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co., logged a deep operating loss this year. (Yonhap)