Many Taiwan-based LED firms have reported falling revenues for April, signaling the traditional second-quarter booming season may be delayed. Firms including Epistar, Formosa Epitaxy, Edison Opto, Tekcore, and Harvatek all reported a dip in their revenue trends. According to industry observers, this is the result of aloof demands from the downstream segment.
Tekcore reported April revenues of NT$292 million (US$10.24 million), a 5.5% sequential drop from March revenues. The accumulated revenues from January-April reached NT$1,036 million, a 51% increase on year. Tekcore stated shipments of LED chips in April outperformed shipments in March. However, March revenues included NT$60 million from resale of sapphire ingots. April revenues only included NT$40-50 million of the resale revenues, hence the decrease. Overall, orders are still pouring in, but yields have been stalled at an average of 60%.
Harvatek posted April revenues of NT$391 million, a slight 4.23% decrease on month. The current capacity utilization is around 70%, stated Harvatek, which is better than that in the first quarter. Order visibility is a bit low due to delayed orders from Japanese clients, added Harvatek. Sales for May and June will depend on demand for LED TVs. As for LED lighting, it is more optimistic as the markets in both Taiwan and China have been presenting healthy demand, Harvatek pointed out.
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LED industry might face a late booming season
Photo: Terry Ku, Digitimes, May 2011
LED firms: Revenues, Dec 2010 - Apr 2011 (NT$m) |
Month | Epistar | FOREPI | Tekcore | Edison Opto | Harvatek |
Sales | Y/Y | Sales | Y/Y | Sales | Y/Y | Sales | Y/Y | Sales | Y/Y |
Apr-11 | 1,693 | 2.8% | 374 | (2.6%) | 292 | 46.1% | 250 | (15.2%) | 391 | 22.3% |
Mar-11 | 1,698 | 16.1% | 400 | 25.5% | 309 | 50.6% | 258 | 14.9% | 408 | 33.8% |
Feb-11 | 1,361 | 7.4% | 350 | 64.7% | 230 | 73.3% | 181 | 4.5% | 274 | 29.6% |
Jan-11 | 1,388 | 6.8% | 350 | 71.6% | 205 | 38.9% | 222 | 7.7% | 399 | 33.7% |
Dec-10 | 1,439 | 14% | 300 | 39.1% | 195 | 22.3% | 191 | 11.9% | 260 | 21.8% |
*Figures are not consolidated
Source: TSE, compiled by Digitimes, May 2011