Taiwan-based IC design houses are expected to report over 15% sequential decreases in revenues for the first quarter of 2012, as orders were mostly fulfilled in advance due to the early arrival of 2012 Lunar New Year, according to industry observers. Seasonality and fewer working days as a result of the Lunar New Year holidays are also reasons for the lower sales anticipated for the first quarter.

Major Taiwan-based IC design firms have posted varying results for the fourth quarter of 2011. MediaTek, Novatek Microelectronics and Richtek Technology saw their fourth-quarter sales decline sequentially, while Realtek Semiconductor, ALi and Pixart Imaging registered on-quarter growth.

MediaTek collected NT$7.46 billion (US$247 million) in December consolidated revenues. Consolidated sales for the fourth quarter of 2011 amounted to NT$22.62 billion, slightly missing the company's targeted NT$22.9-24.5 billion.

ALi, in which MediaTek invests, announced December sales grew about 36% sequentially to NT$467 million. Fourth-quarter revenues came to NT$1.12 billion, up 19.4% on quarter and beating the company's estimate of a 13-17% sequential rise.

ALi previously lifted its sales growth forecast for the fourth quarter, citing brisk orders for set-top box (STB) solutions.

Another STB chip supplier Realtek also managed sequential growth in December and fourth-quarter revenues. The company generated NT$5.15 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011, up 2.7% on quarter and better than its estimate of a slight sequential drop to flat growth.

Buoyed by orders from games console clients, Pixart saw its fourth-quarter revenues increase 11% on quarter to NT$903 million, according to the company. It previously forecast flat sequential growth.