Taiwan-based LED chipmaker Epistar has reported February consolidated revenues of NT$1.259 billion (US$42 million), representing an on-month decrease of 6.7% and an on-year decrease of 12.5%. The accumulated revenues for the first two months of 2013 were NT$2.61 billion, showing an on-year growth of 3.89%, according to the firm. LED packaging house Everlight's February consolidated revenues went down 12.6% sequentially to NT$1.443 billion, but the accumulated consolidated revenues for the first two months of 2013 grew 15% on year to NT$3.096 billion.
Epistar noted that although the number of working days in February was fewer due to the Lunar New Year holidays, the firm added shifts during the holidays and therefore compared with January, the firm lost about 9-10% of working days but the monthly revenues only showed an on-month decrease of 6%. This means February capacity utilization rate and high-end orders actually improved. Overall, the LED market condition in 2013 has shown improvements compared to 2012 and shipments in January and February showed significant growth. Nevertheless, product pricing has fallen around 30% since last year, and hence the shipment growth was not reflected on the revenues.
Epistar added that high-end orders have been rebounding and March order visibility is better than January with capacity utilization rate likely to return to 80%. Epistar's first-quarter 2013 revenues may be flat or better than the revenues in the fourth quarter of 2012.
Everlight believes its financial performance for the first quarter of 2013 will be strong, despite fewer working days. The firm believes there is a chance for revenues in the first quarter to surpass the fourth-quarter 2012 unconsolidated revenues of NT$4.306 billion. Everlight began shipping LED backlight products to new China-base TV customers in the first quarter and obtained the majority of Taiwan's street lamp projects. In the first half of 2013, Everlight is likely to ship over 50,000 LED lamps.
LED chipmaker Genesis Photonics' February consolidated revenues of NT$244 million showed an on-month fall of 10.23% while Formosa Epitaxy saw February revenues drop by 26.87% on month, at NT$223 million. Genesis Photonics noted that March orders and shipments are showing signs of increasing but the first quarter is still a traditional low season, and hence the firm predicts backlight orders and financial performance are likely to be stronger starting from the second quarter.
Unity Opto saw February consolidated revenues at NT$500 million, showing a sequential decrease of 2.68%. The accumulated revenues from January-February were NT$1.014 billion, representing an on-year increase of 57%. Unity Opto stated that demand for backlight products continue to increase as well as demand for LED light bulbs in the Europe and US markets, and hence March revenues are expected to grow steadily.
Everlight expects 1Q13 revenues to show sequential growth
