Taiwan-based Phison Electronics, which supplies NAND-device controller ICs to customers such as Toshiba and Kingston Technology, has reported profit growth for the first half of 2013 thanks to rising sales of controllers for use in eMMC-interface NAND memory devices and SSDs.

　　Phison announced net profits for first-half 2013 grew about 22.6% from a year earlier to NT$1.56 billion (US$52.2 million). EPS for the six-month period came to NT$8.67, compared to NT$7.13 during the same period of 2012.

　　Phison is among the few Taiwan-based NAND flash device controller suppliers capable of providing technologies for SSDs and embedded storage devices. Phison is also partnering with memory module vendor Kingston Technology for embedded devices compliant with the eMMC standard.

　　Silicon Motion Technology is another NAND flash controller IC firm focused on SSDs and embedded storage devices. The Taiwan-based, NASDAQ-listed company previously remarked that sales of its SSD and embedded flash controllers registered impressive growth in the second quarter, buoyed by growing sales of smartphones and tablets in China as well as global markets.

　　In contrast, most of Taiwan-based NAND flash controller IC suppliers saw their profits shrink in the first half of 2013 with some even falling into the red, due to stagnant growth in mature flash card and USB flash drive markets, and their inability to fight for a piece of the embedded NAND device controller pie.

　　Alcor Micro generated net profits of only NT$41 million in the first half of 2013, down 50% from a year ago, while ASMedia Technology's net profits also shrank 50% on year to NT$53 million. Skymedi suffered net losses of NT$310 million, or losses of NT$4.90 per share, in the first half of 2013.e first half of 2013.