Taipei, May 15, 2008 (CENS)--Major thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panel manufacturers announced their operation results for April, which showed that strong information technology (IT)-panel demand would continue to fuel revenues in the second quarter, a traditional off season for TV panels.
AU Optronics Corp. (AUO), the largest TFT-LCD panel manufacturer in Taiwan, said that it shipped 7.38 million large-sized (over-10-inch) panels in April, down 7.7% from previous month, and 14.49 million small/medium-sized panels, up 6.3% sequentially. The company registered consolidated revenue of NT$42.4 billion (US$1.39 billion at US$1: NT$30.5) last month, a 9.9% decrease from March.
AUO attributed the revenue and shipment decreases to the low season of LCD TV panels as well as a higher price baseline in March.
Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp. (CMO), No. 2 player in Taiwan, however, had revenue of NT$33.5 billion (US$1.1 billion) in April, up 0.3% sequentially; as well as shipped 6.25 million large-sized (up 4.9% sequentially) and 9.11 million small/medium-sized panels (up 8.8% sequentially), thanks mainly to the strong IT panel demand.
CMO`s March revenue had recovered to a similar level as that in the fourth quarter (traditional high season) of 2007, and the company still maintained revenue and shipment growths in April due to its newly added production capacity and the established supply chain in southern China.
A senior executive at WitsView said that the first half is a traditional off period for LCD TVs, but strong demand from IT sector would drive panel suppliers` revenue performance.
CMO expects to enjoy a 40% increase in shipments this year. The company aims to have an over-15% shipment growth of large-sized panels in the second quarter due to strong IT-panel demand and newly added capacities from the firm`s sixth-generation (6G) and 7.5G panel plants, which will continuously add new capacities in this year.
Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd. (CPT), the third-largest player on the island, registered revenue of NT$12.28 billion (US$402.6 million) in April, down 6.5% from previous month. Currently, monitor panels account for about 70% of CPT`s shipments. The company shipped 2.35 million large-sized panels, a minor monthly decrease of 0.03%.
Top-3 TFT-LCD Makers` April Results |
| | April Revenue | MoM | April Shipment | MoM |
AUO | NT$42.4 B. | -9.9% | 7.38 M. | -7.7% |
CMO | NT$33.51 B. | +0.33% | 6.26 M. | +4.9% |
CPT | NT$12.28 B. | -6.5% | 2.34 M. | -0.03% |
Source: The companies. |
(by Quincy Liang)
