In the first half of 2010, LED chipmaker Lextar Electronics posted consolidated revenues of NT$3.691 billion (US$115.474 million), gross margin of 25.95% and after-tax profit of NT$613 million or NT$2.02 per share.

Second-quarter revenues reached NT$2.381 billion, up 81.8% sequentially, and gross margin for the period rose 8pp from the first quarter to 28.7%. Quarterly operating profit increased 210% sequentially to NT$518 million with after-tax profit totaling NT$460 million or NT$1.42 per share.

LED lighting accounted for 5% of the Lextar's second-quarter revenues, up from 2% in the first quarter. Share of TV backlight applications rose from 26% to 39% over the same period.

Lextar expects shipment volume to fall 10-15% sequentially in the third quarter but value to rise more than 50% due to customers' shift to higher power products. Capacity utilization in the third quarter should reach 100% for chip production and 80% for chip packaging.

Fellow chipmaker Epistar registered first-half revenues of NT$9.274 billion, gross margin of 37.75% and after-tax profit of 2.692 billion or NT$3.5 per share.

Second-quarter revenues reached NT$5.2 billion, up 30% sequentially, and gross margin for the period increased from 35.8% in the first quarter to 39%. Quarterly operating profit jumped 50% sequentially to NT$1.5 billion with after-tax profit rising 60% on quarter to NT$1.69 billion.