IC backend suppliers see utilization recovering on white-box handset demand
IC packaging houses Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) and Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL), and testing specialists Sigurd Microelectronics and King Yuan Electronics Company (KYEC) have seen their utilization rates recovering after recently received rising orders from IC design house MediaTek, according to company sources.
The backend suppliers may report double-digit revenue growth sequentially for February, market watchers have estimated.
MediaTek recently revised its first-quarter guidance to a 8-13% revenue growth sequentially, attributing the improved revision to better-than-expected handset demand in emerging markets. Market watchers believe that surging demand for white-box handsets in China is the major contributing factor to MediaTek's revenue growth for the current quarter.
MediaTek currently accounts for less than 10% of ASE's overall revenues, sources at the packaging firm indicated. The chip packaging house has reiterated that its guidance for the current quarter will remain unchanged, since the demand outlook remains uncertain. ASE estimated its first-quarter sales may drop 35-40% sequentially, after posting a loss in the previous quarter.
SPIL has forecast a narrower revenue decrease sequentially for the first quarter of this year. Along with rival ASE, the company also swung to losses in the fourth quarter of 2008. Its sales contribution from MediaTek is around 10-15%.
According to KYEC, its average utilization rate will stand at 40-50% for the first quarter of the year. MediaTek plays as its largest customer at present.
Rival Sigurd, for which MediaTek contributes almost a third of its revenues, is expected to see its February sales grow more than 30% sequentially, according to market watchers.
In related news, IC substrate supplier Phoenix Precision Technology (PPT) posted sales of NT$615 million in February, up 36.8% on month. MediaTek is listed among PPT's top-five customers.
The backend suppliers may report double-digit revenue growth sequentially for February, market watchers have estimated.
MediaTek recently revised its first-quarter guidance to a 8-13% revenue growth sequentially, attributing the improved revision to better-than-expected handset demand in emerging markets. Market watchers believe that surging demand for white-box handsets in China is the major contributing factor to MediaTek's revenue growth for the current quarter.
MediaTek currently accounts for less than 10% of ASE's overall revenues, sources at the packaging firm indicated. The chip packaging house has reiterated that its guidance for the current quarter will remain unchanged, since the demand outlook remains uncertain. ASE estimated its first-quarter sales may drop 35-40% sequentially, after posting a loss in the previous quarter.
SPIL has forecast a narrower revenue decrease sequentially for the first quarter of this year. Along with rival ASE, the company also swung to losses in the fourth quarter of 2008. Its sales contribution from MediaTek is around 10-15%.
According to KYEC, its average utilization rate will stand at 40-50% for the first quarter of the year. MediaTek plays as its largest customer at present.
Rival Sigurd, for which MediaTek contributes almost a third of its revenues, is expected to see its February sales grow more than 30% sequentially, according to market watchers.
In related news, IC substrate supplier Phoenix Precision Technology (PPT) posted sales of NT$615 million in February, up 36.8% on month. MediaTek is listed among PPT's top-five customers.
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