The price of sapphire substrates has been reaching stability in 2012. Nevertheless, Japan-based sapphire substrate makers have been eager to lower prices, meaning the price difference between Japan- and Taiwan-based sapphire substrates has been narrowed to 10-20%, according to industry sources.
Sources indicated that Japan-based Kyocera and Namiki have been shifting strategies and lowering quotes to Taiwan-based LED firms. The quotes for 4-inch large-size substrates have been falling to US$50-55/unit, forcing Taiwan-based peers to follow suit and push down prices to US$40-45/unit. The Japan-based firms have also been lowering quotes for mainstream 2-inch substrates to US$10-12/unit, this narrows the price gap between Japan- and Taiwan-based sapphire firms as the current market price is around US$8-9/unit.
China has been eager to develop the sapphire industry. In first-quarter 2012, China invested in and constructed nearly 60 sapphire projects. GCL-Poly, a solar firm that has been entering the sapphire industry, has reportedly sent samples to Taiwan-based LED chipmakers such as Epistar and Formosa Epitaxy for certification.
Taiwan-based LED chipmakers noted that considering long-term alliances, unless the price difference between China- and Taiwan-based sapphire substrate reaches above 10%, the firms are unlikely to switch partners.
Japan-based sapphire firms lower quotes
