The termination of China's Home Appliance Subsidiary programs in first-half 2013 caused LED backlight market demand to ease in June and July 2013. However, some chip makers have reflected rebounding performances due to stable market orders in the second half of the year as well as to several TV vendors' inventory restock demand, according to LEDinside.
In August 2013, listed Taiwan LED makers' total revenues increased 1.7% to NT$11.14 billion (US$375.29 million). Out of these, Taiwan LED chip makers' revenues reached NT$3.95 billion, while packaging firms' revenues reached NT$7.18 billion.
LED chip makers' revenues were stable in August, including Epistar and FOREPI revenues, which reached NT$1.97 billion and NT$420 million, respectively.
LEDinside added that the market should pay continuous attention to the future market development of Sanan Optoelectronics and FOREPI. Sanan and FOREPI's joint venture was approved by Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), and the two companies will be procuring and making technological developments together. Furthermore, chip price trends will be affected by China makers' significant production capacity increase. The China market is likely to impact second-tier Taiwan chip makers, and result in more companies following the footsteps of Chi Mei Lighting Technology Corp. (CMLT) and Chiplus Semiconductor of exiting the LED market, LEDinside believes.
