Asus of Taiwan Expects Q3 Revenues to Surge 20%

Taipei, Sept.13, 2012 (Taipei)--Unlike most of laptop makers, ASUSTek Computer Inc., a major computer maker from Taiwan, saw revenues in its parent increase 6% month on month (MoM) to NT$32 billion (US$1.067 billion) in August. However, an institutional investor predicts the firm to reach NT$40 billion (US$1.33 billion) in brand revenues, a new high in 2012 and the second highest in history, and over 20% quarter on quarter (QoQ) growth in the third quarter.

Despite delayed release of Win8, Asus forecasts to ship over two million tablet PCs in the third quarter, surging 150% from the second quarter, with laptop shipments up 5.5% QoQ to 5.8 million units, driving Asus' revenues in August.

An institutional investor pointed out that due to growing export of Nexus 7, a tablet PC jointly developed by Google Inc. and Asus, sales of Nexus 7 and Asus's Transformer series totaled an estimated one million units in August, a new monthly high, with laptop shipments also higher than expected, pushing laptop monthly revenues to a new high in 2012.

Asus reached NT$78 billion (US$2.6 billion) in brand revenues in July and August, which is likely to grow further due to new shipments of Win8 in September and October, to hit NT$100 billion (US$3.33 billion) in the third quarter with over 20% increase QoQ, higher than the 15~20% previously predicted.

Jerry Shen, CEO of Asus, confirmed that currently Google and Asus have started to sell Nexus 7 in their channels, and the supply was not able to meet the demand in the August. With improvements for supply chain from September, Asus has increased the annual shipment goal for tablet PCs to five million units, and will launch new Ultrabook and Win8 tablet PCs in October.

Asus has performed decently in emerging market this year, with market share in Brazil expected to exceed 10% in 2013, and is likely to set up an office in India.