Lextar expected to see 2Q13 gross margin rise to 13-14%

May 21, 19:55

Lextar Electronics is expected to see gross margin rise from 6.82% for the first quarter of 2013 to 13-14% for the second due to growing orders for LED backlight units used in TV, monitor, tablet and smartphone panels, according to market analysts.

LED maker Epistar expects more revenues from lighting applications in 3Q13

May 21, 11:35

LED epitaxial wafer and chip maker Epistar expects LED applications to account for 30% of total revenues in third-quarter 2013, up from the current 20-25%, due to increasing demand.

Revenues for drivers in LED general lighting applications to triple, says IMS Research

May 21, 10:42

Global revenues for LED driver ICs used in general lighting applications will more than triple from 2012 to 2015, as the market for solid-state illumination booms, according to IMS Research.

LED firms to lower prices through improved technology

May 20, 13:54

International LED firms such as Cree and Osram have introduced LED light bulbs priced below US$10/unit and EUR10/unit (US$12.83/unit), and price competition is expected to heat up in 2013.

Commentary: High-end LED lighting in demand

May 20, 12:31

Apart from gradually replacing traditional lighting, LED lighting is targeting the high-end market with more value-added products. In addition, commercialization of OLED lighting has also started.

LED plant factory market to reach US$1.2 billion in 2013, says PIDA

May 16, 14:15

The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for LED lighting for plant factories is estimated at 27% from 2011-2018, according to Taiwan's Photonic Industry and Technology Development Association (PIDA). In 2013, this market segment is expected to reach US$1.2 billion, said PIDA.

New generation iPhone may adopt sapphire crystal glass for home button

May 15, 21:46

Market rumors that the new generation of Apple's iPhone may adopt sapphire crystal glass for the home button have been circulating and Taiwan-based sapphire substrate maker Tera Xtal has reportedly sent samples to Apple for verification. However, the firm refused to comment on the rumors.

Sanan suspends fund-raising plan

May 13, 11:56

China-based LED chipmaker Sanan Optoelectronics has reportedly halted the second-phase construction of its plant in Wuhu, China, following a company annoucement that it has suspended a plan meant to raise funds for the plant project.

China LED firm NVC bans distributors from selling Everlight products, say reports

May 13, 10:50

China-based LED lighting firm NVC Lighting Technology has reportedly banned cooperating local distributors from displaying and selling LED products from Taiwan-based LED packaging house Everlight, and the distributors that violate the ban will face suspended shipments and lose the rights to sell NVC...

Unity Opto sees 1Q13 revenues up 88% on year

May 13, 10:26

Taiwan-based LED packaging house Unity Opto has announced first-quarter 2013 consolidated revenues of NT$1.79 billion (US$59 million), representing an on-year increase of 75.6%. Net profits were NT$92 million, up 88.6% on year.

Digitimes Research: LED light bulb prices in Japan fall in April

May 10, 15:56

April 2013 prices of 40W and 60W retrofit LED light bulbs in Japan were JPY1,743/unit (US$17.25/unit) and JPY2,357/unit, respectively, showing an on-month decrease of 4% and 12.5%, respectively, according to Digitimes Research.

Lite-On Technology adjusts merger plans

May 10, 10:38

Lite-On Technology has announced adjustments to its planned merger with Lite-On IT. As of May 7, 2013, Lite-On Technology has obtained 93.76% of Lite-On IT shares. According to regulations, Lite-On IT will be delisted and 50 days from the delisting date, Lite-On Technology will buy all the remaining...

Everlight, Edison Opto see rising April revenues

May 9, 21:24

Taiwan-based LED packaging house Everlight Electronics has reported April consolidated revenues of NT$1.935 billion (US$65 million), representing an on-month growth of 4.48% and an on-year increase of 33.59%. The firm expects May revenues to be flat. Evelright noted that demand in all LED applications...

Digitimes Research: Sapphire 2-inch substrate prices to be around US$8/unit in 2013

May 9, 14:39

Over-investment has caused rising inventories in the sapphire industry. Although demand has been returning in the first-half of 2013, to reduce inventories, sapphire prices are unlikely to show any strong increase.

Ledlink reports 43.34% gross margin in 1Q13

May 9, 13:54

Taiwan-based LED optical lens maker Ledlink reported first-quarter consolidated revenues of NT$227 million (US$7.7 million), down by 7.21% on quarter but up by 31.55% on year. The gross margin in the first quarter was 43.34%, lower than the gross margin of 51.5% reported in the fourth quarter of 201...

LED price drops ease in China

May 9, 12:26

China-based LED firms have slowed down the pace of price cuts as LED chipmakers face shrinking profit margins. Taiwan-based firms noted that China-based LED industry leader Sanan Optoelectronics has been limiting its price decline, easing pricing pressure on Taiwan peers.

LED upstream ingot output value may reach US$324 million in 2015, says Displaybank

May 7, 13:54

Output value in the LED upstream ingot segment is expected to reach US$324 million in 2015, according to market research institute Displaybank.

Lextar reports 1Q13 revenues with 22% sequential growth

May 7, 10:22

Taiwan-based LED firm Lextar reported first-quarter 2013 consolidated revenues of NT$2.888 billion (US$97 million), representing on-quarter growth of 22.5% and an on-year growth of 31.7%. In particular, the consolidated operating profit ratio was 6.8% in the first quarter while net profits reached...

Unity Opto sees April revenues increase 41% on year

May 7, 10:20

Unity Opto posted consolidated revenues of NT$695 million (US$23.4 million) for April, increasing by 6.85% on month and by 41.8% on year. The growth was due to increasing sales of LED TVs and shipments of LED lighting fixtures, according to the firm.

Prices for 2-inch sapphire wafers may rise, say Taiwan makers

May 6, 16:14

While price drops of sapphire wafers slowed down significantly in the first quarter of 2013, prices for 2-inch sapphire wafers, which stand at US$6.8-7 currently, may rise, according to Taiwan-based sapphire wafer makers.

Booming LED backlight demand to continue until November, say Taiwan LED makers

May 2, 19:39

Due to strong global demand for LCD TVs, demand for LED backlight units (BLUs) has become robust since the second quarter of 2013 and the booming demand is expected to persist until November, according to Taiwan-based LED makers.

LED market oversupply may delay investment projects

May 2, 14:56

Rising demand for LED backlight and lighting products helped LED chipmakers see capacity utilization rates increase to 90% in the second quarter. Despite shortages of high-end products, the overall LED industry continues to be in oversupply. Market rumors regarding possible changes to the LED epitaxial...

Everlight hopes to expand share in China LED lighting market

Apr 29, 14:36

Taiwan-based LED packaging house Everlight has own-brand LED lighting products and market observers believe the firm's 2013 LED lighting revenues may reach NT$2-3 billion (US$67-101 million). The firm plans to shift market focus to China in 2013 and expects revenues from China to surpass revenues from...

Digitimes Research: LED TV to account for 100% of Samsung TV products in 2013

Apr 26, 15:47

LED TVs will account for 100% of Samsung and 90% of LG's TV products in 2013. Direct-lit LED TVs have lower production costs compared to side-lit LED TVs, which is beneficial in increasing LED TV penetration rate.

Cree reports financial results for fiscal 3Q13

Apr 26, 14:46

US-based LED firm Cree reported US$348.9 million in revenues for the third quarter of its fiscal year 2013, ended March 31, 2013. The figure showed an on-quarter increase of 1% and an on-year increase of 23%.

Sapphire substrate prices may increase in 2Q13

Apr 25, 21:43

Sapphire substrate makers have noted that order visibility is clear to May due to expected demand growth in the LED backlighting and lighting markets. Market observers believe prices of sapphire substrates are likely to increase slightly in the second quarter. Current prices of 2-inch sapphire substrates...

GaN and SiC Power IC market set to rise by factor of 18 from 2012 to 2022, says IHS

Apr 25, 20:46

The emerging market for silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) power semiconductors is forecast to grow a factor of 18 during the next 10 years, energized by demand from power supplies, photovoltaic (PV) inverters and industrial motor drives, according to IMS Research, part of IHS.

Sapphire substrate market in oversupply

Apr 24, 14:58

The market of sapphire substrates, an upstream material for LEDs, has been in oversupply with prices falling. The prices are lower than the production costs of many firms. This has also caused many tier-two sapphire firms to purchase sapphire ingots from large-size sapphire makers to manufacture substrates...

Taiwan LED firms eying Japan market in 2013

Apr 22, 15:53

Taiwan-based LED firms aim to expand share in the Japan market in 2013. Japan-based firms used to have strong competitive advantages due to patents. However, some of the lawsuits recently filed against Taiwan-based LED firms by Japan-based Nichia have been rejected. This means Taiwan-based firms are...

International brands lead LED light bulb price competition

Apr 22, 14:14

The global LED light bulb pricing has been falling in 2013 because some large-size industry leading brands have introduced low-price products. Market observers believe demand in the residential LED lighting market is expected to grow and simplified designs are likely to bring down costs by 20% in 20...

Global average prices of 40W and 60W retrofit LED light bulbs fall in March, says LEDinside

Apr 22, 10:50

The global average price of retrofit 40W LED light bulbs fell 3.9% on month in March, to US$17.10/unit. March global average pricing of retrofit 60W LED light bulbs fell 6.5% on month, to US$24.10/unit, according to market research institute LEDinside.

Everlight optimistic about 2Q13

Apr 19, 10:31

Order visibility is clear to May and monthly revenues are expected to reach a record high in the second quarter, according to Pang-Yen Liu, general manager of Production Business Group at Everlight.

China LED tube, light bulb penetration rate to exceed 15% in 2013

Apr 17, 22:14

Under the 12th Five-Year Plan, local governments in China continue to promote LED lighting. Due to lack of strong international sales in 2012, China-based LED lighting firms have been focusing on domestic demand. Market observers believe the penetration rate of LED tube and light bulbs will exceed...

LEDs to account for a quarter of global lighting market by 2016, says DisplaySearch

Apr 17, 13:55

Demand for LED lighting is growing rapidly thanks to significant expansion in manufacturing capacity, falling prices, environmental concerns, and government incentives. According to DisplaySearch, this new opportunity for LED lighting applications will double the market, from 16 million units in 2012...

China market: Veeco, Aixtron cut MOCVD prices by 30-40% due to competition from local makers

Apr 16, 21:42

MOVCD vendors US-based Veeco Instruments and Germany-based Aixtron SE have lowered quotes in the China market from about US$2 million to about US$1.4 million for a single-wafer MOCVD set and by 30-40% for a multi-wafer model mainly because at least four China-based makers are set for market competition,...

Taiwan LED firms report rising total March revenues

Apr 16, 12:18

LED firms that are listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) have reported total March revenues of NT$9.39 billion (US$313 million), up by 35.1% on month. These LED firms are expected to see strong performances in the second quarter due to rising LED backlighting demand from Korea- and Japan-based...

Digitimes Research: March LED light bulb prices rise in Japan, fall in other markets

Apr 15, 11:44

The March average retail pricing of retrofit 40W and 60W LED light bulbs increased in Japan while other markets saw prices fall compared to February.

China LED firms may begin dumping in 3Q13

Apr 15, 11:41

LED makers have been seeing rising demand and capacity utilization rates in the second quarter of 2013. However, China-based makers noted that there is currently CNY5 billion (US$807 million) worth of inventory, and if end market demand is not as strong as expected, prices in China will be slashed...

Commentary: Sanan financial report scandal stirs subsidy controversy

Apr 15, 11:34

China-based LED industry leader Sanan Optoelectronics has been accused of falsifying financial reports, according to China-based media. This has sparked a debate concerning what critics say is the China government's excessive support for the country's LED industry. Some reports from China-based media...

Epistar to begin LED lighting filament volume production at end of 2Q13

Apr 11, 21:21

Taiwan-based LED chipmaker Epistar plans to introduce three major LED lighting products in 2013 including LED lighting filaments for which volume production is expected to begin at the end of the second quarter. Epistar predicts sales of the three new products will likely generate NT$1 billion (US$33...

Epistar lands orders with shipments scheduled until May, says chairman

Apr 9, 20:32

LED epitaxial wafer and chip maker Epistar has obtained orders with shipments scheduled through the end of May and therefore expects consolidated revenues for the second quarter to significantly increase sequentially, according to company chairman Biing-jye Lee.

I-Chiun sees March revenues increase 29% sequentially

Apr 9, 10:58

Taiwan-based LED lead frame maker I-Chiun Precision Industry has reported March consolidated revenues of NT$557 million (US$18.5 million), showing an on-month increase of 29.69% and an on-year increase of 22.31%. The firm is optimistic about second-quarter performance and believes demand will rise.

Four LED makers see large sequential growth in March revenues

Apr 8, 22:41

Taiwan-based LED epitaxial wafer and chip makers Epistar and Formosa Epitaxy and LED chip packagers Unity Opto Technology and Lextar Electronics had consolidated revenues for March increasing on month by 36.06%, 75.44%, 32.20% and 31.40% respectively, according to the companies.