Panasonic presses appliance sales abroad

OASAKA - Panasonic's overseas sales of home appliances will likely top domestic sales consistently starting in the company's next fiscal year, helped by brisk demand in China, India and other emerging economies, Kazunori Takami, president of the home-appliances unit, said in an interview.  Like many Japanese companies, Panasonic wants to expand its overseas operations to counteract a shrinking domestic market.  The company's buyout plan of its subsidiaries Sanyo and PEW announced last week should help Panasonic overseas, mainly in emerging markets, through economies of scale and shared resources, he said.  Among Panasonic's six business segments, the appliances unit generated the most profit with the highest margin in the April-June period this year.  The division posted sales of Y322.8 billion ($3.74 billion) and an operating profit of Y32.3 billion for a 10% profit margin.  That put the company on track to eclipse its May forecast for full-year unit sales of Y1.25 trillion and a profit margin of 6.2%.