Non-DRAM specialists Macronix International and Winbond Electronics both saw their April revenues increase substantially thanks to a pick-up in customer orders and higher product ASPs.

Mask ROM and NOR flash chipmaker Macronix has announced consolidated revenues of NT$1.81 billion (US$61.3 million) for April 2013, up 24.5% on month, while April consolidated sales at Winbond grew 10.4% sequentially to about NT$3 billion.

Macronix indicated that the over 20% revenue surge was driven by growing sales across its product lines including flash and ROM chips, and foundry services.

Macronix expects to see mask ROM orders ramp up further in the second half of 2013, as major client Nintendo starts replenishing inventory. Meanwhile, demand for NOR flash is set to rise on emerging end-use applications and new customers, Macronix chairman Miin Wu stated at a recent company event.

Wu also revealed an additional NT$2.6 billion in the company's 2013 capex, which will be focused on upgrading production equipment at its 12-inch fab.

Market watchers expect Macronix to return to profitability in the third quarter of 2013, buoyed by a pick-up in mask ROM orders and yield rate improvement at its 12-inch fab.

Growth in Winbond's April sales was driven mostly by specialty DRAM prices, which have risen along with the standard DRAM market recovery. Robust demand for mobile DRAM chips was another contributing factor, said the company, adding that the product line will continue to register shipment growth on the popularity of handsets and portable electronics devices.

Excluding sales generated by its logic IC subsidiary Nuvoton Technology, Winbond was able to reach the break-even point in April and has begun to generate profits. Market watchers expect Winbond to report net profits for the second quarter, following seven consecutive quarters of losses.

By: DocMemory
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