South Korea's Samsung Electronics is predicting a loss of over three billion dollars for the six-month period until next March, due to a global halt in production and sales of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones.

Officials of the firm said on Friday that they will try to erase the loss as soon as possible by expanding sales of existing products.

The officials said they will review their quality test process to strengthen product safety.

But South Korean media say the loss could expand due to deterioration of the company's brand image.

Samsung was forced to stop making and selling the phones this week after complaints that their batteries, even new ones, were catching fire.

The company had been offering replacements due to similar problems soon after it began selling the phones in the United States, South Korea and other countries excluding Japan in August.

The firm is offering refunds or exchanges for the phones.

NHK