Taiwan Photonics Industry and Technology Development Association (PIDA) has recently predicted that the local LED industry will grow at a moderate pace in 2011. According to PIDA , the output value of the global LED industry grew an increase of 68 percent from US$9 billion in 2009 to US$15.1 billion in 2010, and the number will further increase by 38 percent to US$20.8 billion in 2011.

LED chipmaker Formosa Epitaxy 's December revenues fell 25% sequentially to NT$300 million (US$10.23 million), and revenues for 4Q10 came to NT$1.1 billion, down 23% sequentially. But the company's full-year revenues increased 121.5% from 2009 to NT$4.64 billion thanks to strong TV backlight demand.

LED chipmaker Epistar's revenues for December were NT$1.44 billion (US$49.24 million), dropped 13% compared to November. The revenues for the full year in 2010 reached NT$19.76 billion, up 55% from 2009.

LED chip packaging company Wellypower Optronics announced its consolidated revenues for December 2010 hit a record high of NT$820 million (US$28.16 million), and the company got revenues of NT$8.9 billion in the whole years, up 25.4% on year. In December, Wellypower’s LED products sales had a 55.62% share in the total revenues, while CCFL sales was at NT$319 million (38.93%) and lighting products was at NT$44.67 million (5.45%). 4Q10 revenues were NT$2.39 billion, which better than market expectations.

Lextar Electronics ("Lextar" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 3698) has announced its preliminary December 2010 revenue of NT$ 660 million, comparable to that of November 2010 up by 16.6% and up by 85.8% year-over-year. In the forth quarter of 2010, Lextar’s unaudited revenues totaled NT$ 1.73 billion. For the year ended December 31, 2010, unaudited revenue totaled NT$ 8.1 billion, a 297% Y-o-Y increase. Sales Report :  (Unit: NT$ million)

LED chip packaging company Unity Opto Technology’ revenues for December 2010 were NT$510 million (US$17.51 million), down 8.9% sequentially but increasing 30% on year. The accumulated revenues for the full year were NT$6.77 billion, up 69% compared to 2009. Looking forward, both new LED backlit units and new clients were expected to ship much more in 1Q11. LED lighting products’ revenues were also expected to reach 20% in the total revenues in 2011 compared to 13% in 2010.

For all of 2010, Thinking Electronic Industrial posted revenues of NT$4.33 billion, increasing 35.8% from a year earlier. December consolidated revenues were NT$367 million (US$12.61 million), down 3.7% sequentially. In January of 2011, the company started to receive orders as usual, and Thinking's capacity would remain tight in 1Q11 as the company's new plant in China would not come online until 3Q11. But 1Q11 revenues would remain low compared to 4Q10, following the impact of the Chinese Lunar New Year holidays.

Industry sources estimated Richtek Technology 1Q revenues in 2011 would be up 5-10% sequentially, with it's working hard in the handset, LED backlight and consumer electronics. In 2010, 4Q revenues were expected to top NT$2.6 billion, which was higher than the company's projection of NT$2.2-2.5 billion, with gross margin down about 35-38%. Except that, Richtek had completed a buyback of one million company shares from the open market at an average price of NT$253.53 per share.

Targeting to help revive an economy struggling with persistent deflation and a rising yen by creating jobs through green and other potential growth industries, Japan has injected $6.4 billion on 153 low-carbon projects across the country over the next 15 months, using government subsidies as seed money and ranging from production of low-emitting cars, lithium-ion batteries, LED lighting and solar panels to energy-saving electrical appliances.  

Taiwan semiconductor and panel equipment maker Gallant Precision Machining (GPM), reported November revenues of NT$610 million (US$20.3 million), which was of NT$319 million in October. GPM's revenues for the first 11 months of 2010 increased 57.4% from a year earlier to total NT$2.96 billion. The company estimated its equipment for panels, solar energy products and semiconductor would account for 40%, 25% and 25%, respectively, of 2010 revenues.

Recently, SemiLEDs Corporation (NASDAQ: LEDS) was listed for transactions on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, with the symbol “LEDS.” The company’s IPO (initial public offering) was priced $17.00 per share with 5,250,000 shares. The company develops and manufactures LED chips including blue, green and ultraviolet (UV) LED, and LED components, which were primarily for general lighting applications, such as street lights and commercial, industrial and residential lighting.

Chinese venture capital firm ,WI Harper Group, announced that SemiLEDs made its 5.3 million shares of initial public offering on the Nasdaq Global Market exchange with the ticker symbol of LEDS. SemiLEDs’ initial public offering was priced at $17 each, and increased 52% in value on opening day. SemiLEDs posted a profit of $10.8 million for the year ending August 31, 2010 based on $35.8 million in revenue.

LED chipmaker Epistar November revenues decreased to NT$1.663 billion (US$55.161 million), down 2.8% sequentially but up 26.4% from 2009. Revenues from January through November grew 60.16% on year to NT$18.327 million.

According to a recent statement from Philips’ subsidiary Assembleon, Philips has agree to sell 80 percent of Assembleon to independent private equity firm H2 Equity Partners.

Wellypower Optronics reported NT$807 million (US$26.78 million) in November 2010 consolidated revenues, up 5.66% sequentially, in which Taiwan company's LED chip packaging and CCFL businesses contributed NT$429 million and NT$340 million, respectively, to represent 53.18% and 42.24% of November revenues.

Backlight unit (BLU) supplier Radiant Opto-Electronics consolidated revenues for November was NT$4.59 billion (US$151.64 million), up 1.1% sequentially and 45.01% on year, which made a new monthly record. The consolidated revenues for the first eleven month totaled NT$43.78 billion, up 30.12% on year.  

Taiwan’s state-run banks are offering favorable loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises which dedicate in developing six emerging industries including biotech, healthcare, green energy, tourism, boutique agriculture, and innovative culture. It’s said that the First Commercial Bank plans to offer about NT$20 billion (US$625 million) in loans at 1.8%-2% per annum to small- and medium-sized enterprises that need operating capital in biotech, new energy and LED.

Due to Samsung’s plan to roll out new LED-lit liquid-crystal display TVs in December after nearly half a year of suspension to clear its stock of CCFL TVs, Taiwan Unity Opto Technology, the major TV backlights supplier to Samsung and LG, schedules its revenue with an estimated NT$12 billion (US$400 million), to soar 70% in 2011 over 2010, aiming to control over 10% of the world market for L

Taiwan LED chip Supplier Epistar has acquired a 40% stake in Nan Ya Photonics for NT$1 billion to support the reinvested company for the output expansion. According to Epistar`s president, M.J. Chou, the reinvestment will pay off in 2011, when Epistar can secure expanded supply of LED lightings through Nan Ya Photonics.

Edison Opto Corp. debuts its first public offering on the main board of the Taiwan Stock Exchange at the price of NT$108 On Nov. 12.

TFT LCD driver IC maker Himax Technologies 3Q10 revenues were US$138 million, down 26.3% sequentially but still meeting its adjusted forecast. And gross margin increased 2.5pp to 22.9%. Quarterly net income came to US$400,000. Non-driver IC products accounted for 8.4% in 3Q revenues.

Recently, Taiwan-based LED companies reported their October revenues.

Taiwan LCD TV maker Amtran Technology October revenues were NT$6.12 billion (US$202.65 million), up 10.7% sequentially and 13.4% on year. The whole revenues in the first ten months of 2010 totaled NT$49.01 billion, down 5.28%. Its consolidated revenues for October go to NT$7.2 billion, up 14.44%. The whole revenues in the first ten months of 2010 totaled NT$57.77 billion, up 8.74%.

LCD TV maker Amtran Technology posted 3Q revenue of NT$15.27 billion, up 6% quarter-over-quarter and 5% year-over-year, with EPS of NT$0.63. Operating profit stood at NT$0.438 billion, with the operating margin of 2.87%. Net profit stood at NT$0.49 billion, with EPS of NT$0.63. Gross profit arrived at NT$2.049 billion, with the gross margin of 13.42%. In the first three quarters, accumulated revenues totaled NT$42.863 billion, and net profit reached NT$1.356 billion, with EPS of NT$1.77.

AU Optronics Corp. (2409) recently announced its unaudited results for 3Q10. The company posted consolidated revenue of NT$124,403 million (about US$3,989 million), down 3.3% from 2Q. Gross profit stood at NT$6,241 million (about US$200 million), with the gross margin of 5.0%. Operating profit arrived at NT$232 million (about US$7 million), with the operating margin of 0.2%. AUO's net income for 3Q came in at NT$227 million (approximately US$7 million) after tax.

According to Taiwan's largest LED chip maker Epistar President M.J. Jou's report on the sidelines of the LED Forum 2010 in Taipei, the global penetration rate of LED-backlit TV sets will likely double to 40 percent in 2011, but it expected Q4 of 2010 to remain slow. Jou also predicted that global shipments of LED TVs would grow in 2011 at twice the rate seen in 2010, but he did not offer specific figures.

Bright LED's revenues for 3Q10 slipped by 6% to NT$1.41 billion, but thanks to improved product mix, gross margin up to 16.56% from 15.59% in 2Q. Operation gross profit for 3Q was NT$190 million with an operating margin of 13.52%. Pure income for 3Q was NT$143 million with an EPS of NT$0.73. In the first three quarters of 2010, the company’s revenues totaled NT$3.95 billion, and net profit reached NT$344 million with an EPS of NT$1.75.

In 3Q10, Epistar's consolidated revenues reached NT$5.68 billion, up 8.3% sequentially. Gross margin was 40.7%, up from 39% in 2Q. Operating income was NT$1.7 billion with operating margin of 30%. Net profit was NT$1.9 billion up 12% sequentially. For the first three quarters of 2010, Epistar consolidated revenues totaled NT$15.9 billion, gross margin 39.5%, and operating income NT$4.63 billion with 29% operating margin. Net profits were NT$4.6 billion with an EPS of NT$5.81.

LG Electronics’ consolidated revenues reached 13.4 trillion (US$ 11.3 billion) for 3Q10, a 2% decline year on year, and Net profit was 8 billion.

Nexxus Lighting has completed the sale of certain assets of its legacy Commercial and Pool businesses for Approximately $2.3 Million to Next Step Products, LLC.   The divested businesses contains the manufacture, marketing and sale of fiber optic lighting and LED products used for applications in commercial, architectural, pool and spa markets, but apart from Company's Array business or the business of the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Lumificient Corporation.