Taiwan's Chip Assemblers See Revenue Growth in March

Taipei, April 8, 2011 (CENS)--Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc. (ASE), PowerTech Technology Inc., and Siguard Microelectronics Co. saw revenue growth in March thanks to added contracts.

ASE, currently the world's No.1 chip assembler by revenue, raked in consolidated revenue of NT$16.5 billion (US$550 million at US$1:NT$30) in March, surging 19.1% from a month earlier and 4.3% from a year earlier. Its non-consolidated revenue reached NT$10.9 billion (US$366 million), up 16.7% from February and 9.9% from a year earlier.

The consolidated March revenue helped swell the company's consolidated revenue for the first quarter of the year to NT$46 billion (US$1.5 billion), off 13.7% from the preceding quarter whereas gaining 22.5% from the a year earlier.

ASE's non-consolidated volume for the first quarter was NT$30.8 billion (US$1 billion), increasing 12.6% year on year whereas down 5.3% from a quarter earlier. The result met market expectations.

PowerTech scored consolidated revenue of NT$3.3 billion (US$110 million) in March, adding 3.28% from a month earlier and 12.07% from a year earlier. The March result returned to the peak levels recorded by the company in September last year.

During the first quarter, PowerTech raked in consolidated revenue of NT$9.7 billion (US$325 million), contracting 2.2% from a quarter earlier whereas gaining 12.8% year on year. Industry executives estimated the company to see revenue rise month after month mostly thanks to added contracts from DRAM maker Elpida Memory.

Siguard garnered consolidated revenue of NT$398 million (US$13.2 million) in March, rising 20% from a month earlier whereas down 5.3% year on year. In the first quarter, the company scored consolidated revenue of NT$1.1 billion (US$37 million), slipping 4.7% from the fourth quarter of last year. Pre-tax earnings for the first quarter were NT$220 million (US$7.3 million), according to the company's internal calculation.

Although Siliconware Precision Industry Co., Ltd., Taiwan's No.2 chip assembler, saw its consolidated revenue for March rise 14.2% from February to NT$5 billion (US$16.8 million), its revenue for the first quarter contracted 6.6% from a quarter earlier thanks to shorter workdays.