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.

Market watchers noted that backlight applications for TVs, notebook, handsets, and lighting represented about 35-40%, 20-25%, 10-15%, and l 20-25%, respectively of current sales. It’s expected that Epistar's 4Q revenues would reach around NT$5 billion, a 10-15% sequential drop, and quarterly profit could see a NT$1.5 billion decline. The profit would total NT$6 billion or NT$7 a share in 2010.

LED chipmakers Formosa Epitaxy November revenues had a 0.5% rise. The chipmakers indicated that the reason why revenues did not add much more was the small- to medium-size backlight segment in the off season, and LED lighting accounted for much higher share of their revenues. Formosa Epitaxy expected LED lighting to account for 30% in 4Q10.

Meanwhile, LED chipmakers expected weak sales to continue in December and January sales could rebound modestly, due to clearing out inventory and December orders adding. Affected from the Lunar New Year holidays and fewer working days in February, substantial growth would take place in March.