Shipments of LCD driver ICs by Taiwan-based IC design houses increased 23.4% from a year ago to NT$22.09 billion (US$747 million) in the fourth quarter of 2012, mainly pushed by demand for smartphones, according to Digitimes Research.

Shipments of small-size LCD driver ICs climbed 38.5% from a year earlier to NT$10.35 billion in the fourth quarter of 2012, while those of medium- to large-size driver ICs grew by a smaller 12.5% on year to NT$11.74 billion, said Digitimes Research.

On a sequential basis, the fourth-quarter shipments of LCD driver ICs by Taiwan-based IC design houses represented growth of 1.2%, in line with seasonal trends, Digitimes Research indicated. Fourth-quarter shipments of small-size LCD driver ICs showed a 2.1% sequential decrease while those of medium- to large-size driver ICs grew 4.2% on quarter.

For all of 2012, shipments of LCD driver ICs by Taiwan-based IC design houses came to NT$79.36 billion, up 10.5% on year, Digitimes Research disclosed.

Novatek Microelectronics topped fellow companies as the largest provider of LCD driver ICs in 2012, followed by Himax Technologies, Raydium Semiconductor, ILI Technology (Ilitek), Orise Technology and Sitronix Technology, Digitimes Research said.

Source: Digitimes Research, compiled by Digitimes, February 2013