Taiwan PCB makers see poor sales in August

Taipei, Sept. 11, 2009 (CENS)–Affected by sluggish market demand for mobile phones around the world, Taiwanese PCB (printed circuit board) makers, who together supply over half of the global market for handset PCBs, generally posted moderate sales in August.

Dedicated to production of PCBs for traditional mobile phones, Compeq Manufacturing Co., Ltd., for instance, reported sales revenue of NT$1.518 billion (US$46 million at US$1: NT$33) for August, slightly up 0.78% from July but sharply down 31.25% from last August, adding to its aggregate revenue for the first eight months of this year to NT$11.859 billion (US$359.36 million), declining 16.97% from a year earlier.

Despite the lackluster revenues, the firm is still optimistic about its sales performance in September to November, because seasonal booms will hit the market for conventional mobile phones in the fourth quarter.

Having moved its assembly lines of LCD (liquid crystal display) PCBs to China to enhance its operation efficiency, WUS Printed Circuit Co., Ltd., fortunately, enjoyed a comparatively strong monthly growth of 4.1% in its combined revenue for August, reaching NT$267 million (US$8.09 million), and raked in aggregate revenue of NT$1.998 billion (US$60.54 million) in the first eight months of the year.

Although specializing in production of PCBs for the most stellar handset, smartphone, Unitech Printed Circuit Board Co., Ltd., however, suffered a 6.31% monthly drop in its August revenue, reaching only NT$719 million (US$21.78 million). The firm stressed that its sales of handset PCBs will surely rebound in September, due partly to seasonal booms and partly to some delayed shipment in August to be cleared in the month.

Unimicron Technology Corp., the largest handset PCB maker in Taiwan, garnered revenue of NT$3.959 billion (US$119.96 million) in August, up 0.75% from July but down 6.15% from a year earlier. Its aggregate revenue for the first eight months of the year came to NT$25.814 billion (US$782.24 million), down 16.2% from a year earlier.

Sales of Taiwan’s Handset PCB Makers in August, 2009
Company	Sales Revenue	Monthly Growth Rate	Yearly Growth Rate	Aggregate Revenue for First 8 Months	Year-on-year Growth Rate
Compeq Manufacturing Co., Ltd.	NT$1.518 billion	0.78%	-31.25%	NT$11.859 billion	-16.97%
WUS Printed Circuit Co., Ltd.	NT$267 million	4.10%	-65.78%	NT$1.998 billion	-60.17%
Unitech Printed Circuit Board Co., Ltd.	NT$719 million	-6.31%	-26.13%	NT$5.052 billion	-28.45%
Unimicron Technology Corp.	NT$3.959 billion	0.75%	-6.15%	NT$25.814 billion	-16.20%

Source: The companies
(by Steve Chuang)