FPCB makers Career and Unitech to see smartphone segment continue driving sales 1Q09
Although the global financial crisis has impacted overall handset demand, the smartphone segment is performing relatively better. Thanks to healthy orders from the smartphone segment, Taiwan flexible PCB (FPCB) maker Career Technology and Unitech Printed Circuit Board have strong visibility for the first quarter of 2009, according to market sources.
Research In Motion (RIM)'s better-than-expected sales for its fiscal lthird quarter implies that related component suppliers were also benefited, the sources indicated. Research firm IDC also forecasts the smartphone market to grow 8.9% in 2009, while the general handset market will decline.
Career, Unitech, as well as Unimicron Technology, Compeq Manufacturing and Flexium Interconnect, are benefiting from strong orders of high-density interconnect (HDI) boards for smartphones, the sources said. Unitech's and Career's sales have been driven by orders from RIM and High Tech Computer (HTC), both of which are expected to be smartphone growth drivers in 2009, the sources added.
Career's utilization rate in October and November reached 80-90%, and the company is optimistic about sales in smartphone segment in the first quarter of 2009, according to the sources.
Career has reported record sales in November, and its combined consolidated sales for October and November reached NT$2.03 billion (US$62.38 million), already surpassing its third-quarter consolidated sales of NT$2.02 billion.
Although Career's December sales will decline from November since customers have been clearing inventories, they may still have a double-digit growth compared to the same period last year, said the company. Career expects its consolidated sales to grow 40% in the fourth quarter.
Unitech's sales are also driven by strong orders from the smartphone segment, and the company's handset proportion has increased to over 20% from 10%, said the company.
Research In Motion (RIM)'s better-than-expected sales for its fiscal lthird quarter implies that related component suppliers were also benefited, the sources indicated. Research firm IDC also forecasts the smartphone market to grow 8.9% in 2009, while the general handset market will decline.
Career, Unitech, as well as Unimicron Technology, Compeq Manufacturing and Flexium Interconnect, are benefiting from strong orders of high-density interconnect (HDI) boards for smartphones, the sources said. Unitech's and Career's sales have been driven by orders from RIM and High Tech Computer (HTC), both of which are expected to be smartphone growth drivers in 2009, the sources added.
Career's utilization rate in October and November reached 80-90%, and the company is optimistic about sales in smartphone segment in the first quarter of 2009, according to the sources.
Career has reported record sales in November, and its combined consolidated sales for October and November reached NT$2.03 billion (US$62.38 million), already surpassing its third-quarter consolidated sales of NT$2.02 billion.
Although Career's December sales will decline from November since customers have been clearing inventories, they may still have a double-digit growth compared to the same period last year, said the company. Career expects its consolidated sales to grow 40% in the fourth quarter.
Unitech's sales are also driven by strong orders from the smartphone segment, and the company's handset proportion has increased to over 20% from 10%, said the company.
Posts
No comments: