According to the report by the Samsung Economic Research Institute, sales of the top 500 listed Internet companies totaled US$ 170.6 billion in 2010, compared with US$ 21.3 billion in 2000.
During the same period, sales in the IT industry rose 2.4-fold and the energy industry grew 4.2-fold, the report showed. The report also said the total capitalisation of the companies reached US$ 588.8 billion, up from US$ 108.4 a decade ago.
Their total operating profit was US$ 28.5 billion last year, turning from a loss of US$ 11.4 billion in 2000. Only three firms -- Amazon.com Inc., eBay Inc. and Yahoo Inc. -- were among the 10 biggest companies by sales both in 2000 and 2010, according to the report.
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