MACAO – Deswell Industries reported fiscal fourth-quarter net sales of $16.7 million, down 39.1% year-over-year.

Net sales dropped 41% to $7.5 million in the company’s electronic and metallic segment.

Gross profit in the electronic and metallic segment decreased to 1.2% of net sales for the quarter, compared to 12.4% of net sales for the year-ago quarter. The drop is attributed to an increase in raw material costs as a percentage of sales due to higher provisions for obsolete inventory, and in labor costs and factory overhead as a percentage of sales during the quarter.

The company reported a net loss of $900,000 for the fourth quarter compared to net income of $600,000 for the same period in 2009.

Net sales for the year were $81.6 million, down 38% compared to fiscal 2009.

The firm reported net income of $1.5 million for the year ended Mar. 31, up 25% year-over-year.