Taiwan-Based LED Chipmaker Epistar Reported Third-Quarter Revenues of NT$4.263bn

Several Taiwan-based LED firms have reported falling September and third-quarter revenues showing the low season in the LED industry in the third quarter. Low demand for TV LED backlight modules (BLUs) and falling ASP of LED products have been causing firms to report lower than expected third-quarter revenues. Taiwan-based LED chipmaker Epistar reported third-quarter revenues of NT$4.263 billion (US$141 million), showing a 20% on-quarter decrease and 4% decrease compared to revenues from first-quarter 2011. Formosa Epitaxy reported September revenues of NT$325 million. Accumulated revenues for third-quarter 2011 reached NT$1.043 billion, a 6% decrease on quarter. Genesis Photonics has been reporting increasing monthly revenues in 2011, however since July, the growth in monthly revenues stopped. Genesis Photonics reported September revenues of NT$350 million. Total revenues for third-quarter 2011 were NT$1.215 billion, a 7.8% on-quarter decrease. Lextar was the exception, reporting third-quarter revenues of NT$2.44 billion, representing an approximate 6% on-quarter increase. Epistar stated that September revenues were better than expected, in addition, order visibility and demand have been showing signs of revival. Furthermore, the mass capacity expansion by China's LED industry has been slowing down, hence the price of LED chips stabilized in September, added Epistar. Edison Opto, a Taiwan-based downstream LED firm, reported September revenues of NT$186 million, a 36.06% on-year decrease. Accumulated revenues for third-quarter 2011 were NT$569 million, a 15.8% decrease on quarter, and 13.9% decrease compared to revenues from first-quarter 2011. Unity Opto saw September revenues fall 20% on month to NT$400 million, the lowest monthly revenues reported in 2011. The third-quarter revenues were NT$1.424 billion, a 17.6% on-quarter decrease and 12% decrease compared to the first quarter. Bright LED and Harvatek reported third-quarter revenues of NT$1.019 billion and NT$894 million respectively. Both were the lowest quarterly revenues reported in 2011. According to chairman of Everlight, Robert Yeh, the third quarter should be the worst quarter in 2011 as the fourth quarter is expected to show signs of revival. Source: www.digitimes.com