Etron Technology, which mainly designs and supplies specialty DRAM (SDRAM) chips used in LCD TVs, mobile phones and other consumer products, has reported net profits of NT$151 million (US$5 million) for the first quarter of 2010 compared to losses of NT$144 million a year ago. The result also marks its third straight profitable quarter.
Etron registered revenues of NT$2.29 billion in the first quarter, down 3.8% on quarter but up 95.5% on year.
Rising prices for SDRAM chips could allow Etron to generate sequential revenue growth through May, according to market sources. Supply of such niche memory has reportedly fallen short of demand since the beginning of 2010, propping up prices.
Etron chairman Nicky Lu was quoted in previous reports saying prices for SDRAM chips will rise by another 10% in the second quarter, and pricing looks bullish through year-end 2010.
Meanwhile, Elite Semiconductor Memory Technology (ESMT) swung to net profits of NT$284 million in the first quarter of 2010 from losses of NT$68 million a year earlier. Zentel Electronics also made a turnaround, reporting first-quarter profits of NT$99 million compared to losses of NT$4 million in the same quarter of 2009.