Fewer Korean and Japanese companies are on the list of the top 1,000 Asian companies than last year, but more Chinese and Taiwanese businesses are included, the Hong Kong weekly Yazhou Zhoukan writes. The Dec.3 issue of the magazine shows that Japan topped the list with 636 companies, followed by Taiwan with 78 and Korea with 67. Korea came second with 69 companies last year, nine more than third-placed Taiwan. Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and Hyundai Motor made it to the top 20. The combined net profit of the 67 Korean companies stood at US$35.9 billion, down 3 percent from the previous year.

A total of 63 Chinese companies made it on the list, up from 39 in 2004 and 46 in 2005. Taiwan also added 24 more companies to the list since 2004. Japanese companies overwhelmed the top 10 ranking until last year. But two Chinese companies, Sinopec (the China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation) and SGCC (State Grid Corporation of China) ranked fourth and ninth this year. In terms of sales, Toyota was the top Asian company. But in terms of net profit, CNPC (China National Petroleum Corporation) was selected the top Asian company, the magazine reported.

(englishnews@chosun.com )