LED epitaxial wafer and chip maker Epistar has obtained orders with shipments scheduled through the end of May and therefore expects consolidated revenues for the second quarter to significantly increase sequentially, according to company chairman Biing-jye Lee
Epistar expects operations to swing to net operating profits in the second quarter, Lee indicated. In addition, Huga Optotech, Epistar's subsidiary, is expected to turn from net losses to break-even in the third quarter, Lee said. Epistar's utilization of overall production capacity will rise to over 85% in April, Lee said.
LED ASP for the second quarter is expected to drop slightly by 3-5% on quarter, and Epistar expects monthly shipments of AlGaInP LEDs to increase to one billion chips in the second quarter, Lee indicated.
If wars break out between North and South Korea, South Korea-based TFT-LCD panel makers' shipments will decrease, Lee analyzed. Because South Korea-based makers together share 50% of global output, the decrease in panel shipments would reduce demand for LED backlight units, bringing negative impact on Taiwan-based LED makers, Lee said.
