Taiwan's LED Makers Have a Banner May

Taipei, June 7, 2012 (CENS)--many of Taiwan's leading LED makers saw their revenues hit new highs in May.

Chipmaker Epistar Inc. saw its May revenue hit one-year high of NT$1.65 billion (US$57 million at US$1: NT$29), an increase of 9.8% over NT$1.51 billion (US$52 million) recorded a month earlier. Epileds Technologies Inc.'s revenue of NT$149 million (US$5.1 million) for May hit a historical high and represented a 31.16% gain year on year. Ledtech Electronics Corp. had revenue of NT$176 million last month, soaring 32.97% year on year and hitting a 32-month high.

Industry executives ascribed the hefty revenue growth mostly to mounting penetration of LCD TVs lit by LED backlights and demands for LED lighting fueled by Taiwan's electricity rate hikes, which will take effect on June 10.

Orders have inundated Epistar's production lines, inspiring outlooks that the company's sales will continue rising in June. The company has distributed excessive orders to affiliated Huga Optotech Inc.

Lextar Electronics Corp. scored revenue of NT$860 million (US$29 million) in May, rising 2.5% from a month earlier. The company, a subsidiary of LCD maker AU Optronics Corp., estimated the LED industry to enter into high season in the third quarter after warming up in the second quarter.

Regardless of the brisk revenue growth in May, Bright LED Electronics Corp. Chairman T.R. Liao felt that overall demand for LEDs has failed to increase apparently so far this year as a result of the lingering uncertainty of global economy dragged by the European debt crisis. The company, an LED packager, saw its revenue for last year decrease 21% from a year earlier, to NT$4.1 billion (US$141 million).