Samsung Elec mulls Mexico, Europe plants - paper

SEOUL, June 19 (Reuters) South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. is considering building plants in Mexico and Europe to make home appliances, the Korea Economic Daily reported in its early Wednesday edition.

The paper quoted a company official as saying Samsung planned to build a second household appliances plant in Mexico by no later than 2009 and was also mulling a plant in Europe.

''We plan to manufacture premium appliances, including refrigerators, washing machines, kitchen tools among others, at the two plants,'' the official told the newspaper.

''Whereas we had focused on the domestic market and emerging markets such as China until last year, we want to target the United States and Europe more aggressively.'' The official did not disclose the size of investment in the new factories.

Samsung, whose products range from semiconductors, flat screens and handsets to home appliances, was not immediately available to comment on the report.

REUTERS PV Ds1622