LED chipmaker Epistar reported June revenues with on-month increase of 4.3%. LED packaging house Everlight reported June revenues with an increase of 2.9% compared with May revenues. Both firms saw second-quarter revenues grow sequentially, at 36% and 15% respectively. Epileds and Unity Opto also reported on-quarter increases of second-quarter revenues at 43% and 68% respectively.
Epistar's June revenues reached a 12-month high. Nevertheless, accumulated revenues from January-June were NT$8.499 billion (US$284 million), down 13.09% on year. Due to increasing capacity utilization rates for TV backlights, Epistar's second-quarter overall utilization rate reached full from 85% in the first quarter. Epistar had to lease 8-9 units of MOCVD equipment from subsidiary Huga Optotech to fulfill demand.
Epistar's gross margin also showed growth in the second quarter. Market observers predict Epistar's average second-quarter gross margin may increase to 20%. They also say Epistar will switch to new equipment and may increase blue LED capacity by about 10%.
Everlight saw June revenues reach NT$1.49 billion, up by 2.9% on month. Robert Yeh, Everlight's chairman, indicated that high demand in the LED market will continue throughout the third quarter. Everlight predicts demand for TV backlight to stay flat but demand for LED lighting will likely show significant growth.
I-Chiun Precision Industry, a maker of LED SMD lead frames, reported June revenues of NT$530 million, flat compared to May. However, consolidated second-quarter 2012 revenues reached NT$1.56 billion, up by 24.86% on quarter and 20.09% on year. According to the firm, the direct-lit LED TV backlight units (BLUs) were mainly supplied to China-based brands and panel makers. The main drive for revenue growths in the second quarter came from increasing demand for direct-lit LED TVs in China, said the firm.
Epileds reported June revenues of NT$130 million, down by 13% on month. However, Epileds reported strong revenues for April and May, so second-quarter revenues showed a sequential increase of 43%.
LED chipmaker Epistar reports rising June revenues
