Backlight unit (BLU) and projector maker Coretronic has announced strong revenues gains for March but noted its projector shipments are likely to decline over 10% sequentially in April due to a high base in March and the unsteady supply of some optical parts caused by the March 11 Japan earthquake.

Additionally, BLU shipments are expected to stay flat in April as a slowdown in demand for TV BLUs will offset an increase in shipments for tablet PC applications, the company said.

Coretronic's consolidated revenues reached NT$8.79 billion (US$303.1 million) in March, up 42% on month and 19% on year. For the first quarter 2011, revenues totaled NT$20.67 billion, increasing 6% sequentially but declining 3% from a year earlier.

Front projector shipments soared 89% sequentially to 136,000 units in March due to a low base in February and delayed orders, and revenues for projectors advanced 84% to NT$1.78 billion. First-quarter projector shipments reached 297,000 units, worth NT$3.93 billion.

March BLU shipments jumped 30% sequentially to 6.58 million units, worth NT$6.11 billion, up 46%. TV BLU shipments increased 36% to 1.73 million units, of which 42% were LED models. Monitor BLU shipments increased 31% to 2.74 million units, of which 52% were LED models. Notebook and tablet BLU shipments, mostly LED models, gained 21% to 2.02 million units.

For the first quarter 2011, BLU shipments topped 16.56 million units generating revenues of NT$13.7 billion

Coretronic is scheduled to reveal its results for the first quarter as well as the guidance for the second on April 22.