Several Taiwan-based IC design houses are expected to revise upward their revenue guidance for the first quarter of 2012 to positive sequential growth, thanks to a surge in orders from China, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

Sources at Taiwan-based PC-related IC suppliers indicated that clients in China's white-box market have stepped up their pace of orders in preparation for the May 1 holiday season. The order ramp-up will boost sales at related component suppliers until April and May, the sources said.

Sources at Taiwan's analog design firms pointed out that their customers have started building inventory. In particular, companies in the handset sector are gearing up for product launches in the second quarter, and have therefore replenished stockpiles in advance, the sources said.

Meanwhile, Taiwan-based wireless chip designers have also seen order visibility extend since the end of February, with orders from China's white-box sector pouring in, according to sources at the firms.

Major Taiwan-based IC design houses including MediaTek, MStar Semiconductor, Novatek Microelectronics, Realtek Semiconductor and Richtek Technology are expected to see their first-quarter sales come in at the high end of their guidance, while ALi, Global Mixed-mode Technology (GMT) and Faraday Technology are likely to revise upward their revenue targets for the quarter, industry sources said.