Taiwan-Based LED Chipmakers Indicate Capacity Utilization Rates in First-Quarter 2012

Taiwan-based LED chipmakers Genesis Photonics and Formosa Epitaxy indicate that capacity utilization rates in first-quarter 2012 should be able to reach around 70-80%. In addition, shipments of TV backlights in the first quarter will outperform fourth-quarter 2011. TV makers have been planning to introduce new models causing demand for LED backlights to increase in December 2011. In addition, small- and medium-size products will likely show growth in February, which will also help the LED backlight market to rebound. Industry sources indicated that Japan-based TV brand Sharp plans to expand its market share of 60-inch products in 2012. Sharp also targets 2013 shipments of 60-inch products to reach 2.5-3 million units. South Korea-based TV maker Samsung's LED TV shipments in fourth-quarter 2011 increased by 50% on quarter. Source: LEDs Magazine