Powerchip Technology has announced revenues of NT$2.58 billion (US$85.86 million) for May, up 13.4% sequentially but down 36.7% on year. For the first five months of 2012, revenues amounted to NT$10.3 billion, decreasing 45.9% from a year earlier.

The company attributed the monthly revenue gains to improved DRAM pricing and stable growth in the foundry business, according to vice president and spokesman Eric Tang.

Due to rising demand for driver ICs, Powerchip has seen a shortage of its wafer foundry capacity recently, said Tang, adding that the order visibility for wafer foundry business has extended to the end of the year thanks to an influx of orders for long-term mainstream products.

Prices of DRAM chips are expected to remain stable or even hike in the second half of 2012 due to a favorable supply and demand situation in the industry, Tang commented.