HANDSETS
Doesn't look that nice for Q1 from this point of view:
With the handset industry being hit by weaker-than-expected demand, handset printed circuit board (PCB) makers are bracing for a sharp fall in first-quarter sales, according to industry sources.
Orders from Motorola remain weak while demand from other handset vendors such as Apple, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, and High Tech Computer (HTC) is not reaching previously expected levels, the sources said.
Motorola, which started increasing its orders in mid-August last year in preparation of the holiday shopping season, has now turned conservative, and there is no sign that it will increase its orders any time soon, the sources said.
Towards the end of 2007, handset PCB makers had predicted Sony Ericsson and HTC would increase their demand in the first quarter, but now it looks that their orders may stay flat sequentially, the sources added.
The sources also claimed that demand from Apple and Nokia is decreasing, with Nokia orders for the first quarter expected to fall 10% sequentially because of weak demand in China's handset market.
Compeq Manufacturing, who saw fourth-quarter handset PCB shipments jump 25% sequentially to 54 million units, is likely to see first-quarter shipments drop about 25% to 40 million units, the sources said.
Compeq disclosed that orders from some clients are not as strong as what the company had estimated at the end of 2007.
While some market observers predict a 25% decline in Compeq's sales for the first quarter, the company estimates the sales drop at 15-20%, the sources said.
Unitech Printed Circuit Board previously had only expected a 5% drop in first-quarter sales, but has now adjusted the figure to 5-10%, the sources said.
Unitech remarked that the handset market will only grow 10% in 2008, and therefore the handset PCB industry will not see sharp growth. The company said it is increasing the proportion of high-end applications to boost revenues.
Unitech's growth for 2008 will hinge on orders from Motorola and other major vendors, the sources said, adding that it is likely to have only a 10% growth for the year.
Unitech's handset PCB shipments for the fourth quarter rose 3% sequentially to 25 million units, the sources added.
digitimes.com
I'm interested, if SPSN gives again a book to bill number.
Looks like volume for Q1 will be around -10% QoQ. The
question is, what will ASPs do in the face of the Newco, which
should finally appear as an independend company.
edit:
If SPSN is "good", they drove capacity already "down" and
switch in that time from 90nm to 65nm (FAB25).
BUGGI |
