The inventory of TV backlights has been cleared, pushing demand to return after the Lunar New Year holidays. LED backlights for TVs have become the main force to drive up sales for LED firms. Since February, capacity utilization rate has been increasing up to 70-80%, said LED firms. In addition, February has more working days compared to January, hence revenues will show growth, added LED firms.
Taiwan-based LED packaging house Unity Opto indicated orders from TV makers have been steady due to previous inventory clear-outs. Coupled with flowing orders of lighting applications from Europe and the US, February revenues are likely to increase by 10% on month.
Backlight application sales will account for 60% of total revenues in first-quarter 2012 due to increasing orders for new TV models, added Unity Opto. Furthermore, demand of lighting applications from Europe and the US will help revenues to account for 23-25%.
Everlight noted that sales of infrared, lighting, and backlights have been showing signs of rebounding.
Bright LED reported low revenues for January and expect February performance to improve significantly. Bright LED began supplying LED street lamps to Yiwu City in Zhejiang, China in second-quarter 2011. The shipments will be completed by end of second-quarter 2012.
Ledtech's January orders reached NT$250 million (US$8.5 million), a record high. Shipments will begin in March 2012.
LED chipmaker Tyntek stated that capacity utilization rate has been growing to 80% in February due to increasing demand for LED sensors.
New TV models spur LED backlight demand
Photo: Digitimes file photo
Article translated by Jackie Chang
