Memory packaging and testing service provider Powertech Technology (PTI) has posted fourth-quarter 2009 sales of NT$8.74 billion (US$273 million) and net income of NT$1.68 billion, or NT$2.51 per share. The results represent on-quarter increases of 7.9% in sales and 19.5% in profits, meeting the company's guidance, according to PTI.
PTI has estimated its capex budget for 2010 at NT$9 billion, compared to NT$7 billion in 2009, signaling its optimism about the year's business outlook. 2009 capex was originally set at NT$3 billion earlier in the year, but was revised twice on a rebound in the memory chip market.
PTI is gearing up mass production for 2Gb DDR3, GDDR5 and 40nm-made DRAM chips between March and April 2010, according to the company. The memory backend house also expects rising shipments for DDR3 memory through 2010.
DDR3 is likely to account for more than 60% of PTI's total DRAM chip shipments in March, and the proportion will continue to climb to reach 80% in June, the company said.
With order visibility stretching to the second quarter of 2010, PTI said first-quarter revenues will reach between the levels in the third and fourth quarters of 2009.
PTI's major customers include Elpida Memory, which outsources DRAM production to subsidiary Rexchip Electronics and has partnered with Winbond Electronics on GDDR memory. Rexchip is scheduled to start producing 2Gb DDR3 using Elpida's 40nm-class technology in the second quarter, whereas Winbond recently said it expects to kick off pilot runs for 65nm GDDR5 later in the first quarter.