Wafer testing firms expect better 2Q09 on resumed orders for handset chips
Monday 30 March 2009]
Wafer testing service providers Ardentec, King Yuan Electronics Company (KYEC) and STATS ChipPAC Taiwan Semiconductor have estimated stronger performance for the second quarter of 2009, with order visibility extending to the middle of May, according to the companies.
KYEC said its revenues for the second quarter are expected to grow 30-40% sequentially, thanks to rising orders for handset chips from China and other emerging markets. In addition, utilization rate for LCD driver ICs has rebounded to 60-70%, and memory testing business has grown slightly to almost 40%, according to the company.
KYEC earlier estimated its revenues for March to increase over 20% sequentially. The company's February sales grew 21% on month thanks to a surge in short lead time orders for handset chips and LCD driver ICs.
Ardentec said that its revenue performance is likely to bottom out after seeing its worst first quarter, but declined to give a growth estimate. Currently, logic ICs account for about 75% of overall revenues, and the remaining 25% comes from memory products. Texas Instruments (TI), Ardentec's major customer, contributes 40% to its revenues, followed by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).
STATS ChipPAC Taiwan aims to break even in the second quarter of 2009, according to the company. Buoyed by a surge in resumed orders from its handset IC customers, the company expects a sequential growth in revenues for March.
Ardentec, KYEC and STATS ChipPAC Taiwan: February 2008 - February 2009 revenues (NT$m)
Month
KYEC
Ardentec
STATS ChipPAC Taiwan
Sales
Y/Y
Sales
Y/Y
Sales
Y/Y
Feb-09
432
(59.8%)
107
(68.9%)
42
(71.4%)
Jan-09
356
(69.9%)
100
(72.2%)
31
(82.1%)
Dec-08
458
(62.4%)
178
(50.3%)
62
(65.7%)
Nov-08
810
(35.8%)
224
(36.1%)
79
(60.6%)
Oct-08
1,050
(19.9%)
356
8%
122
(34.8%)
Sep-08
1,151
(11.6%)
381
4.4%
151
(16.5%)
Aug-08
1,206
(4.4%)
375
5.1%
151
(8.2%)
Jul-08
1,229
8.2%
360
10.1%
171
10%
Jun-08
1,222
15%
330
13.4%
152
(7.3%)
May-08
1,205
15.6%
327
16.4%
153
(6.4%)
Apr-08
1,201
16%
323
24.1%
153
(8.4%)
Mar-08
1,251
22%
345
39%
149
(19.9%)
Feb-08
1,072
17.8%
344
53.7%
145
11.1%
*Figures are not consolidated
Source: TSE, compiled by Digitimes, March 2009
Ardentec, KYEC and STATS ChipPAC Taiwan: 4Q 2007 - 4Q 2008 revenues (NT$m)
Quarter
KYEC
Ardentec
STATS ChipPAC Taiwan
Sales
Y/Y
Sales
Y/Y
Sales
Y/Y
4Q-08
2,319
(38.9%)
759
(27%)
3Q-08
3,585
(3.1%)
1,117
6.5%
473
(5.5%)
2Q-08
3,628
15.5%
979
17.8%
457
(7.4%)
1Q-08
3,503
18.9%
1,049
43.4%
469
1.2%
4Q-07
3,793
11.6%
1,040
17.9%
569
5.3%
*Figures are not consolidated
Source: TSE, compiled by Digitimes, March 2009
Monday 30 March 2009]
Wafer testing service providers Ardentec, King Yuan Electronics Company (KYEC) and STATS ChipPAC Taiwan Semiconductor have estimated stronger performance for the second quarter of 2009, with order visibility extending to the middle of May, according to the companies.
KYEC said its revenues for the second quarter are expected to grow 30-40% sequentially, thanks to rising orders for handset chips from China and other emerging markets. In addition, utilization rate for LCD driver ICs has rebounded to 60-70%, and memory testing business has grown slightly to almost 40%, according to the company.
KYEC earlier estimated its revenues for March to increase over 20% sequentially. The company's February sales grew 21% on month thanks to a surge in short lead time orders for handset chips and LCD driver ICs.
Ardentec said that its revenue performance is likely to bottom out after seeing its worst first quarter, but declined to give a growth estimate. Currently, logic ICs account for about 75% of overall revenues, and the remaining 25% comes from memory products. Texas Instruments (TI), Ardentec's major customer, contributes 40% to its revenues, followed by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).
STATS ChipPAC Taiwan aims to break even in the second quarter of 2009, according to the company. Buoyed by a surge in resumed orders from its handset IC customers, the company expects a sequential growth in revenues for March.
Ardentec, KYEC and STATS ChipPAC Taiwan: February 2008 - February 2009 revenues (NT$m)
Month
KYEC
Ardentec
STATS ChipPAC Taiwan
Sales
Y/Y
Sales
Y/Y
Sales
Y/Y
Feb-09
432
(59.8%)
107
(68.9%)
42
(71.4%)
Jan-09
356
(69.9%)
100
(72.2%)
31
(82.1%)
Dec-08
458
(62.4%)
178
(50.3%)
62
(65.7%)
Nov-08
810
(35.8%)
224
(36.1%)
79
(60.6%)
Oct-08
1,050
(19.9%)
356
8%
122
(34.8%)
Sep-08
1,151
(11.6%)
381
4.4%
151
(16.5%)
Aug-08
1,206
(4.4%)
375
5.1%
151
(8.2%)
Jul-08
1,229
8.2%
360
10.1%
171
10%
Jun-08
1,222
15%
330
13.4%
152
(7.3%)
May-08
1,205
15.6%
327
16.4%
153
(6.4%)
Apr-08
1,201
16%
323
24.1%
153
(8.4%)
Mar-08
1,251
22%
345
39%
149
(19.9%)
Feb-08
1,072
17.8%
344
53.7%
145
11.1%
*Figures are not consolidated
Source: TSE, compiled by Digitimes, March 2009
Ardentec, KYEC and STATS ChipPAC Taiwan: 4Q 2007 - 4Q 2008 revenues (NT$m)
Quarter
KYEC
Ardentec
STATS ChipPAC Taiwan
Sales
Y/Y
Sales
Y/Y
Sales
Y/Y
4Q-08
2,319
(38.9%)
759
(27%)
3Q-08
3,585
(3.1%)
1,117
6.5%
473
(5.5%)
2Q-08
3,628
15.5%
979
17.8%
457
(7.4%)
1Q-08
3,503
18.9%
1,049
43.4%
469
1.2%
4Q-07
3,793
11.6%
1,040
17.9%
569
5.3%
*Figures are not consolidated
Source: TSE, compiled by Digitimes, March 2009
30/3 2009 23:55 le 0
6372 IC designer Macroblock sees strong sales for March
Monday 30 March 2009]
IC design house Macroblock is expected to see over NT$100 million (US$2.95 million) in revenues and a gross margin of up to 50% for March amid increased short-term orders, according to market watchers.
Macroblock was the first Taiwan company to introduce LED driver ICs for lighting and to have them made by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the watchers said. The share of lighting-use LED driver ICs in Macroblock's overall shipments will continue to grow in the second quarter as global demand for LED lighting has increased significantly due to adoption for infrastructure improvement in many countries in the world, the sources said.
Monday 30 March 2009]
IC design house Macroblock is expected to see over NT$100 million (US$2.95 million) in revenues and a gross margin of up to 50% for March amid increased short-term orders, according to market watchers.
Macroblock was the first Taiwan company to introduce LED driver ICs for lighting and to have them made by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the watchers said. The share of lighting-use LED driver ICs in Macroblock's overall shipments will continue to grow in the second quarter as global demand for LED lighting has increased significantly due to adoption for infrastructure improvement in many countries in the world, the sources said.
30/3 2009 23:59 le 06374 DRAM suppliers may increase quotes due to rising demand, sources say
Memory | Mar 27, 12:08
Samsung Electronics, Hynix Semiconductor and Elpida Memory may raise DRAM quotes as demand from major memory module makers is increasing significantly, industry sources have speculated. Read more
Memory | Mar 27, 12:08
Samsung Electronics, Hynix Semiconductor and Elpida Memory may raise DRAM quotes as demand from major memory module makers is increasing significantly, industry sources have speculated. Read more
31/3 2009 00:04 le 06375 ALi to see up to 30% revenue growth in 2Q09 thanks to recovering STB demand
IC design | Mar 27, 16:23
Market watchers expect IC designer ALi to see 17% revenue growth in March and 20-30% growth in the second quarter because demand for set-top boxes (STBs)... Read more
MediaTek handset chips in short supply
IC design | Mar 27, 14:04
White-box handset makers are seeing a shortage of MediaTek chips due to a significant rebound in China's handset market, with the Taiwan-based IC designer's...
IC design | Mar 27, 16:23
Market watchers expect IC designer ALi to see 17% revenue growth in March and 20-30% growth in the second quarter because demand for set-top boxes (STBs)... Read more
MediaTek handset chips in short supply
IC design | Mar 27, 14:04
White-box handset makers are seeing a shortage of MediaTek chips due to a significant rebound in China's handset market, with the Taiwan-based IC designer's...
31/3 2009 00:06 le 06376 DRAM spot prices surge on fab shutdown speculation, says inSpectrum
Memory | Mar 27, 15:48
Spot prices for DRAM have surged by over 20% for the week of March 23-27, mainly driven by news about potential shutdown at fabs in Taiwan, according... Read more
Memory | Mar 27, 15:48
Spot prices for DRAM have surged by over 20% for the week of March 23-27, mainly driven by news about potential shutdown at fabs in Taiwan, according... Read more
31/3 2009 00:20 le 06377 Notebook LCD panel prices expected to start increasing in April
LCD panel | Mar 26, 12:43
Notebook LCD panel prices are expected to start rising in April with an initial increase of around US$1-2 due to vendors in Europe starting to restock inventory plus increasing demand from China, according to market sources. Read more
LCD panel | Mar 26, 12:43
Notebook LCD panel prices are expected to start rising in April with an initial increase of around US$1-2 due to vendors in Europe starting to restock inventory plus increasing demand from China, according to market sources. Read more
31/3 2009 14:32 le 06428 Taiwan motherboard makers conservative about 2Q
Tuesday 31 March 2009]
Despite increased orders recently, Taiwan-based motherboard makers are maintaining a generally conservative outlook about the second quarter, according to industry sources.
The general view among motherboard makers is that the increased short-term and/or urgent orders in February and March will end soon and be followed by a slow period in the second quarter. With such expectations, makers have kept their components orders to a minimum. Orders for PCBs, chipsets and driver ICs are kept within guidelines of keeping inventories at a two-week level, the sources pointed out.
First-tier motherboard makers expect their shipments in the second quarter this year to drop 10-20% sequentially. Unless market demand starting to appear again, the makers will not place any mass-volume orders in the near future.
Tuesday 31 March 2009]
Despite increased orders recently, Taiwan-based motherboard makers are maintaining a generally conservative outlook about the second quarter, according to industry sources.
The general view among motherboard makers is that the increased short-term and/or urgent orders in February and March will end soon and be followed by a slow period in the second quarter. With such expectations, makers have kept their components orders to a minimum. Orders for PCBs, chipsets and driver ICs are kept within guidelines of keeping inventories at a two-week level, the sources pointed out.
First-tier motherboard makers expect their shipments in the second quarter this year to drop 10-20% sequentially. Unless market demand starting to appear again, the makers will not place any mass-volume orders in the near future.
