Taiwanese LED suppliers expect a banner March

Taipei, March 8, 2004 (CENS)--Although Taiwan's suppliers of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) showed mixed revenue performances in February, they were unanimously positive about the revenue outlook for March.

Harvatek Corp. reported February revenue of NT$144 million (US$4.3 million at US$1:NT$33), a 30% loss from January. The company's executives attributed the recession mostly to white-light diodes, which have replaced blue diodes, its major-line products. The company has not yet diversified into production of white-light diodes.


Harvatek's industry peers Bright LED Electronics Corp. and Opto Tech Corp. saw hefty growth in the meantime, with Bright enjoying a new high revenue of NT$210 million (US$6.3 million at US$1:NT$33) and Opto Tech a 35% growth.

Bright, Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd., Tyntek Corp. and Unity Opto Technology Co., Ltd. Expected their March revenues to hit new highs thanks to seasonal factor.

Everlight has received NT$530 million (US$16 million) worth of orders while Unity Opto has secured NT$180 million (US$5.4 million) in orders for this month. Bright expected March revenue to cross NT$300 million (US$9 million) with orders from the Kaohsiung City Government for the diodes for its traffic lights. Opto Tech estimated shipment of its organic LEDs (OLEDs) to double next month. Tyntek estimated orders for its diodes to soar next month.

Opto Tech executives attributed the company's hefty revenue growth last month mostly to its thriving shipments of OLEDs. The company estimated the shipment to further rise next month to total NT$500 million (US$15 million) as a result of increased supply of driver Ics for LED boards, which has run short. The company projected to rake in average monthly revenue of NT$600 million (US$18 million) in the first half this year.

Bright owed its better-than-expected February revenue mostly to the NT$30 million (US$910,000) worth of contract for traffic-light diodes from the Chiayi County Government. The contract helped float its February revenue to at least NT$210 million, increasing 114% from January. The company expected its earnings to reach NT$7 per share for the year.

Everlight executives pointed out that the company's monthly revenue to return to normal level this month from its worst times in the first two months this year. They blamed recent price slump of white-light diodes for the declines of the company's January and February revenues.