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Market News

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – An increase in netbook, notebook and high-end handset orders will drive second-quarter revenue for PCB makers up 15% to 20%, according to DigiTimes.

HannStar Board has already reported a utilization rate of 70%, with notebook orders extending 3 to 4 weeks. Unitech Printed Circuit Board is expecting four-week order visibility on smartphone-use PCB orders.

Tripod Technology reported March revenues climbed 15% from February, on demand for notebook, opto-electronics boards and HDI boards.

Gold Circuit Electronics (GCE) is close to reaching full utilization at its Changshu, China plant. Its plants in Suzhou, China and Taiwan are reporting 50% and 75% utilization rates respectively.

TAIPEI -- Nan Ya Plastics may adjust copper-clad laminate (CCL) prices in April, based on “rising commodity prices,” according to Digitimes. According to the report, other Asian CCL producers may follow suit.

Crude oil prices and copper prices are significantly down compared to 2008 levels. Copper prices are down nearly 50% compared to the 5-year high experienced last June when copper soared to just over $4.00/LB. Prices on LME and COMAX closed on April 9 at $2.02/LB and $2.07/LB, respectively. LME and COMAX inventories levels are high with a forecast for stable pricing throughout 2009. Shanghai copper posted higher prices on April 9, $2.85/LB. Forecasts reflect declining prices for the remainder of 2009.

In related news, CENS reported that Nan Ya Plastics registered NT$10.993 billion (US$325.23 million) in sales in March, an increase of NT$49 million (US$1.44 million) from the preceding month and that the company noted copper-clad laminate orders had picked up at the end of March and the increase was sustained into April.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – The numbers are in from the Apex trade show in early April and they aren’t pretty. Overall attendance at the Las Vegas show dropped 34.5% year-over-year, according to figures released today by the show producers.

TAIPEI – Almost every major Taiwanese electronics maker reported month-on-month gains in March.

Acer and Compal reported year-over-year gains in March, bucking a broader trend. But only Powerchip declared lower sales from February, while Acer, Asustek, ASE, Compal, Hon Hai (Foxconn), HTC, Mediatek, Quanta, UMC and TMSC all reported sequential gains.

Acer said sales rose 38% sequentially and 24% year-over-year, while Compal’s revenues rose 14.3% sequentially and 16.4% year-over-year.

Foxconn’s March sales jumped 24.4% over February, while Asustek and UMC each gained 40% or more.