Consolidated revenues at Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL) grew 18% on month to NT$5.54 billion (US$188 million) in March 2012 bringing its year-to-date sales to NT$14.08 billion. Results for the first quarter showed a 3.6% sequential decrease, in line with the IC packager's guidance of a 3-7% drop.

SPIL indicated that March revenues were driven by growing sales from the communications sector, while the computing and consumer segments generated higher-than-expected sales. Meanwhile, sales of memory products were relatively weak in March, SPIL said.

Orders for wirebond packaging ramped at a fast pace in March, lifting SPIL's overall utilization rate for the first quarter to 90% on average, the company revealed. Meanwhile, utilization rates for its flip-chip (FC) packaging and logic IC testing averaged 85% and 70%, respectively, in the first quarter, the company added.

In addition, industry sources have speculated that orders for 28nm graphics chips from AMD and Nvidia have boosted SPIL's utilization rates for 12-inch bumping and FC packaging to 100% of capacity since the end of March. SPIL's monthly sales are expected to register sequential growth during the second quarter, according to the sources.

In response, SPIL said it does not comment on customer orders.

SPIL chairman Bough Lin remarked at the company's most recent investors conference that the semiconductor industry would stage a quick recovery after hitting bottom in the first quarter, and continue its rebound through the third quarter. Customers will likely step up their pace of orders starting March, Lin said previously.