Largan Precision Co (大立光) and Catcher Technology Co (可成), two Taiwanese suppliers for Apple Inc, on Friday recorded a monthly record high in sales for last month, which analysts attributed to orders from Apple for the next-generation iPhone Inc.
Last month, smartphone camera lens maker Largan posted NT$3.96 billion (US$132 million) in consolidated sales, up 13 percent from a month earlier, and also up 65 percent year-on-year, the company said in a filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
Metal casing supplier Catcher recorded NT$5.01 billion in consolidated sales, up 7.8 percent from a month ago, and up 55.1 percent from the same month a year earlier, the company said in a separate filing to the stock exchange.
Analysts said Largan and Catcher are expected to benefit from an uptick in orders from Apple in the second half of this year due to the predicted demand for the iPhone 6.
The two companies’ sales growth reflected Apple’s efforts to build up component inventories ahead of the launch of the new iPhone, they said.
Apple is widely expected to introduce two iPhone models with larger displays at an event scheduled for Tuesday. The new products are likely to go on sale on Sept. 19, according to analysts.
Commenting on its sales for last month, Largan said that with its clients launching or preparing to launch new flagship smartphones in the third quarter, demand for advanced camera lenses is on the rise, in particular 13-megapixel lenses.
As the new iPhones are equipped with more sophisticated cameras, Largan has seen the average selling price of its products increase, analysts said.
Catcher said last month’s jump in sales resulted from new smartphone models unveiled by its major clients, and growth momentum is expected to continue to the fourth quarter, which it forecasts to be its best quarter of this year.
In the first eight months of the year, Largan’s consolidated sales saw an increase of 57 percent from the same period a year earlier to NT$24.30 billion, while those of Catcher rose 26.9 percent year-on-year to NT$33.38 billion.
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