UltraChip and Sitronix reach record shipments of handset driver ICs in 2Q

UltraChip and Sitronix Technology expect to see record shipments of handset-use STN LCD driver ICs in the third quarter of this year on stronger demand and larger capacity from OEM chip makers.

UltraChip aims to see its shipments rise 10% from 9.7 million units in the second quarter, with Sitronix expecting a 20% quarterly growth, up from 17 million units. The forecast is more optimistic than reported in a July 9 article, in which a source at Sitronix expected the company’s shipments to increase 10% in the third quarter.

Thanks to capacity expansion from OEM chip makers, the two companies saw record monthly shipments at the end of the second quarter. UltraChip shipped 3.7 million handset driver ICs in June while Sitronix shipped more than six million units. Sitronix was predicted to ship five million units in June.

However, the companies expect the low-season effect to weaken their handset driver IC shipments in the fourth quarter.

Other Taiwan-based STN LCD driver IC manufacturers include Elan Microelectronics, Himark Technology and Novatek.

* Monthly monochrome STN LCD driver IC shipments total about one million units
**All shipments are monochrome STN LCD driver ICs
Source: companies, compiled by DigiTimes, July 2004.

Article translated by Carrie Yu and edited by Michael McManus