Taiwan major LED makers have reported to set up a new record in May revenues, resulting from mounting penetration of LCD TVs lit by LED backlights and demands for LED lighting fueled by Taiwan’s electricity rate hikes, which will take effect on June 10.

Orders have inundated Epistar’s production lines, inspiring outlooks that the company’s sales will continue rising in June. The company has distributed excessive orders to affiliated Huga Optotech Inc. Epistar saw its May revenue hit one-year high of NT$1.65 billion (US$57 million at US$1: NT$29), an increase of 9.8% over NT$1.51 billion (US$52 million) recorded a month earlier.

Lextar scored revenue of NT$860 million (US$29 million) in May, rising 2.5% from a month earlier. The company, a subsidiary of LCD maker AU Optronics Corp., estimated the LED industry to enter into high season in the third quarter after warming up in the second quarter.

Epileds Technologies Inc.’s revenue of NT$149 million (US$5.1 million) for May hit a historical high and represented a 31.16% gain year on year.

Ledtech Electronics Corp. had revenue of NT$176 million last month, soaring 32.97% year on year and hitting a 32-month high.

For Bright LED Electronics Corp., an LED packager, its revenue for last year decrease 21% from a year earlier, to NT$4.1 billion (US$141 million). Its Chairman T.R. Liao felt that overall demand for LEDs has failed to increase apparently so far this year as a result of the lingering uncertainty of global economy dragged by the European debt crisis.