Yageo's December revenue down 21% from November

Taipei, Jan. 10, 2003 (CENS)--Mainly affected by the Christmas holidays, Yageo Corp. raked in combined revenue of only NT$1.05 billion in December, down 21% from November, executives of the local passive component maker said yesterday.

The firm's combined revenue in December still grew 2% from the same month a year earlier. Its overall revenue stood at NT$15.27 billion in 2002, down 14% from 2001.

In December alone, Yageo's Taiwan plant scored revenue of NT$689 million. Its revenue from mainland China and other regions totaled NT$363 million.

The revenue from individual affiliates declined somewhat in December, compared with November. But the ratio of revenue from the mainland is expected to increase significantly in the future.

International EMS (electronics manufacturer service) makers have now clustered in eastern China. Yageo's Suzhou plant is expected to gain increasing orders with its one-stop shopping and strong production capacities. The Suzhou plant will become more important in the future revenue contribution.

In related news, Walsin Technology Co., another major passive component maker on the island, scored revenue of NT$440 million in December, up 37% from one year earlier but down over 10% from NT$511 million in November. Its revenue totaled NT$4.9 billion in 2002, up about 20% from 2001.

Executives at Walsin said that its production capacity for MLCC (multilayer ceramic capacitors, chip resistors, base bands, and relevant control components now hits a maximum level. Prospects are bright in the mainland for the year, especially in east and southeast regions.

The world supply for MLCCs has exceeded the demand by about 300 million units per month. It is expected that the inventory will be digested by the end of the third quarter, when the market will reach a balanced situation.

Walsin's MLCC deliveries grew over 60% in 2002, compared with 2001. It expects such deliveries will grow 50% in 2003.