Three major Taiwan-based sapphire substrate makers Crystalwise Technology, Tera Xtal Technology and Crystal Applied Technology all have posted losses for the first half of 2011 due largely to losses incurred from declined prices of sapphire substrate inventories.

Crystalwise suffered a loss of NT$359 million (US$12.36 million) or NT$4.33 per share for the first half although revenues were up 140% on year to NT$1.58 billion during the period. Gross margin for the first half of 2011 was negative 16.95% compared to a gross margin of 23.9% posted a year earlier.

Tera Xtal incurred a loss of NT$230 million or NT$3.71 per share in the first half, in which gross margin was negative 8.92%. Meanwhile, Crystal Applied posted losses of NT$28.85 million or NT$0.71 a share during the same period.

Source:digitimes