Hynix has been selling non-core assets to repay its debts

The South Korean group reported second-quarter net earnings of 625bn won (�292m; $538m), compared with a loss of 530bn won a year earlier.

Hynix said sales of flash memory chips, used in digital cameras, music players and mobile phones, also grew rapidly.

Higher computer chip prices have helped boost profits at rivals Samsung and Micron Technology.

'Very impressive'

Hynix said sales of dynamic random access memory chips (DRAM) - used mainly for computer memory - accounted for 79% of sales in the April-to-June quarter.

Park Kum-yung, a fund manager with Mirae Asset Co, said: "The second-quarter earnings were very impressive. The strong margin in the DRAM business was surprising."

Last month, Hynix forecast it would achieve operating profits of 1.4 trillion won this year, a stark turnaround from last year's operating loss of 224bn won.

The world's third-largest chipmaker has been selling non-core assets to reduce its 4.2 trillion won debt pile and repay creditors.