Global demand for LED backlighting and lighting products has been increasing and due to the traditional boom season, Taiwan-based LED firms such as Everlight and Ledlink have reported record high April revenues. The two firms expect May revenues to show on-month growth. Unity Opto and Formosa Epitaxy predict monthly revenues to peak in the third quarter. LED firms also expect lighting demand to increase in the second half of 2013.
Everlight saw April consolidated revenues reach a record high. The firm noted that order visibility is clear to the end of June.
Unity Opto stated that orders from TV makers began to increase before China's May 1 holidays and this demand has yet to quiet down after the holidays. The firm predicts LED-backlit direct-type TVs will replace traditional CCFL-backlit TVs and take 25% of market share in 2013. The firm added that second-quarter revenues may show double-digit sequential growth.
In addition, Unity Opto noted that recently new touch notebooks and tablets have been launched and volume production should start in the beginning of the third quarter. Rising orders for new types of small- and medium-size touch products plus orders for large-size TVs are likely to push the performances of backlight providers, said Unity Opto.
Formosa Epitaxy stated that June order visibility is comparable to May and TV backlight demand continues to be strong. LED lighting demand is likely to increase starting at the third quarter. The firms predicts the 15 MOCVD equipment sets at its plant in Taoyuan, Taiwan, will be operating at full capacity by the end of the third quarter.
Lextar, the LED subsidiary of AU Optronics (AUO), disclosed that due to growing demand for handset devices and ultrabooks, the backlighting market continues to grow in the second quarter. As for the lighting market, growth has been caused by the launch of a new generation of light tubes and lighting components.
LED chipmaker Epistar believes the revenue share from the backlight business is likely to be higher than the revenue share from lighting in the second quarter.
