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NEWS & VIEWS |
Taipei,
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
15:04 (GMT+8)
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Subject: Bits + chips > IC manufacturing |
Taiwan export order value hits 12-month high in October Nov 24, 11:42 Taiwan received export orders totaling US$31.754 billion in October 2009, hitting the highest monthly level since November 2008 and increasing by 2.97% on month and by 4.41% on year, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) on November 23. Read more |
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Taiwan October joblessness rate falls below 6% Nov 24, 10:59 Taiwan had 653,000 jobless citizens in October 2009, or an unemployment rate of 5.96% that was lower than September's 6.04% but higher than the 4.37% for October 2008, according to statistics released by the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) on November 23. Read more |
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TSMC reiterates no plans to take part in SMIC board or operations Newswatch - Nov 23, 12:18 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has reiterated that it will not seek representation on the board of directors of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) or get involved in the China foundry's operations. Read more |
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Aptina adds Micron 8-inch fab in Japan to its production line Nov 20, 16:45 Aptina Imaging plans to use Micron Technology's 8-inch fab in Japan as a CMOS image sensor (CIS) production site since it is still unable to immediately support short lead-time orders from clients, according to Aptina CEO David Orton. Aptina will also consider using fabs in Taiwan for manufacturing some of its CIS products in the future, Orton added. Read more |
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Chipbond likely to miss revenue guidance for 4Q09, say watchers Nov 20, 16:38 LCD driver IC packaging and testing house Chipbond Technology may see fourth-quarter 2009 revenues decline by up to 30% sequentially, as customers' inventory levels are still high, according to market watchers. Gross margin for the quarter will accordingly slide to 14-16% for the quarter, compared to 23.5% in the third quarter. Read more |
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Toshiba to form China joint venture for system LSI assembly and testing Nov 20, 16:36 Toshiba on November 20 announced it plans to team up with Nantong Fujitsu Microelectronics (NFME), a joint venture owned by China-based Nantong Huada Microelectronics, Fujitsu of Japan and others, for system chip assembly and testing in China. The companies expect to enter into a definitive agreement in January 2010 and to establish the joint venture in April 2010. Read more |
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KYEC sees 4Q09 sales grow on quarter; aborts plans to spin off memory testing unit Nov 20, 15:03 King Yuan Electronics Company (KYEC) has estimated revenues to grow by up to 5% sequentially in the fourth quarter of 2009, while maintaining a 60-65% utilization rate. The IC testing firm attributed the slight growth to a continued pickup in demand for graphics chips and niche memory. Read more |
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North America chip-gear book-to-bill remains above 1.0 in October, says SEMI Nov 20, 10:49 North America-based semiconductor equipment manufacturers posted US$756.2 million in orders in October 2009 and a book-to-bill ratio of 1.10, according to SEMI. A book-to-bill of 1.10 means that US$110 worth of orders was received for every US$100 of product billed for the month. Read more |
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SMIC completes construction on multiple fabs in Shenzhen Nov 20, 10:45 Semiconductor Manufacturing International (SMIC) has completed construction of its new and separate 200mm (8-inch) and 300mm (12-inch) fabs in Shenzhen, China. David NK Wang made his first appearance as SMIC's CEO on November 19, when the China-based foundry held a ceremony to celebrate the completion. Read more |
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Japan chip-gear book-to-bill flat in October 2009, says SEAJ Nov 19, 16:51 Japan-based semiconductor equipment manufacturers posted a book-to-bill ratio of 1.28 in October 2009, similar to the prior month's level, according to data gathered by the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan (SEAJ). A book-to-bill of 1.28 means that 128 yen worth of new orders was received for every 100 yen of product billed for the month. Read more |
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China-based touch controller supplier Pixcir expands cooperation with Taiwan-based touch panel suppliers Nov 19, 16:07 China-based TFT-LCD driver IC and capacitive touch controller supplier Pixcir Microelectronics has recently expanded its cooperation with Taiwan-based touch panel suppliers including Cando and Sintek Photronic, and completed testing for 5- to 17.3-inch touchscreen modules, according to market sources. Read more |
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One too many LCD driver IC backend service providers in Taiwan, says Chipbond Nov 19, 14:22 Taiwan-based Chipbond Technology has commented that reducing the number of the local LCD driver IC packaging and testing houses to three through acquisitions or mergers will help the industry grow healthily. Chipbond is open to such cooperation with fellow makers, according to an unspecified executive at the company. Read more |
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TSMC able to take seat on SMIC board, say state-run China media Nov 19, 11:46 It is still possible for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to take a seat on the board of directors for Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) due to its holdings of up to 10% in the China-based wafer foundry, according to a recent report in the Chinese-language China Electronics News, which is under the supervision of China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). TSMC has stated that it will be a passive investor. Read more |
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Share buy-up from ASE will not affect USI operation, says USI Nov 18, 16:51 A Universal Scientific Industrial (USI) spokesperson has commented on Advanced Semiconductor Engineering's (ASE's) announcement to buy up shares in USI, saying that the company had no knowledge of ASE's action before the announcement. Read more |
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Spirox sees no risk of overspending by foundries and IC backend suppliers in 2010 Nov 18, 16:36 Taiwan-based Spirox, which provides integrated solutions from IC design through manufacturing for the semiconductor and TFT LCD high-tech industries, has commented that there will be no risk of overspending by the local wafer foundries and IC packaging and testing firms in 2010. Read more |
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MediaTek and Spreadtrum raise wafer starts at foundries for 4Q09 Nov 18, 14:31 MediaTek has placed more wafer starts at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) for the fourth quarter of 2009, buoyed by demand for white-box handsets, according to industry sources in China. Total orders from the fabless customer for the quarter are likely to increase 15% sequentially. Read more |
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Taiwan IC production value to shrink 8% in 2009, says TSIA Nov 18, 13:32 Taiwan's IC production value is estimated to reach NT$1.2238 trillion (US$38.43 billion) in 2009, down 8.1% on year, according to the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association (TSIA). Overall IC production grew 23.2% sequentially to NT$368.8 billion in the third quarter, with the manufacturing (including foundry) sector up 25.6%. Read more |
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ASE to buy up shares in USI, targeting SiP applications Nov 18, 11:12 Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) is seeking to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Universal Scientific Industrial (USI) for NT$21 (US$0.65) per share, with the total cost estimated at NT$18.9 billion, according to the company. Read more |
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Semiconductor total available market for digital cable STBs declining through 2013, says In-Stat Nov 18, 10:24 The market for semiconductor components for digital cable set-top boxes (STBs) is projected to decrease from 2008 to 2013, according to In-Stat. In 2008, the total available market (TAM) for digital cable STB semiconductors was over US$2.7 billion. Through the remainder of the forecast period, the gradual decline in digital cable STB unit shipments will result in a decreasing semiconductor component TAM. Read more |
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Consumer-IC backend supplier Greatek to move into new plant in 1Q10 Nov 17, 17:08 Chip packaging and testing firm Greatek Electronics, which focuses on the consumer electronics market, has said its new plant in Chunan, in the northern Taiwan county of Miaoli is expected to start operations in mid-December. The company plans to move into the larger production base in the first quarter of 2010, and will sell its existing Kungyi plant. Read more |
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TSMC denies reports it plans to place Rick Tsai on SMIC board Nov 17, 15:19 Taiwan market sources have indicated that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is planning to appoint Rick Tsai, who leads TSMC's New Business Development Organization (NBDO), as its representative director on Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation's (SMIC's) board. In response, TSMC asserted its previous statement that TSMC is a passive investor and will neither participate in the operation of SMIC, nor take a seat on the SMIC board. Read more |
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ASE, SPIL revenues expected to drop slightly in November Newswatch - Nov 17, 15:14 Chip packaging and testing house Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) is likely to see revenues slip by less than 5% on month in November 2009, while Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL) may report slightly dropping or flat sequential revenues, according to market watchers. The estimates show improvement compared to larger declines experienced over the same month of 2008 and 2007, which the watchers attributed to demand from the PC sector. Read more |
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Chip sales in 2010 to rebound to 2008 levels, says Gartner Nov 17, 14:03 Worldwide semiconductor revenues are on pace to total US$226 billion in 2009, an 11.4% decline from revenues of US$255 billion in 2008, according to the latest outlook by Gartner. The revised forecast shows a narrower drop compared to the firm's previous estimate of a 17.1% shrink. Read more |
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Pixart, MediaTek and UMC cooperate for MEMS g-sensors Nov 17, 12:00 Taiwan-based CMOS image sensor designer Pixart Imaging and handset IC design house MediaTek will work with United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) to promote sales of MEMS accelerometers (g-sensors) to China-based handset IC designers and handset vendors, according to market sources. Read more |
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CMO-Innolux merger to revamp supply chain, say Taiwan equipment makers Nov 16, 16:26 With the upstream industry becoming more consolidated, the trend is expected to vertically integrate their supply chain, according to Taiwan-based LCD equipment makers, which have pinned their hopes on operating more efficiently with domestic customers and partners. Read more |
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Chipbond affiliate in China suspends expansion plan pending rule changes Nov 16, 14:16 Chipbond Technology's China-based affiliate Chipmore Technology has suspended plans to expand capacity for gold bumping, pending possible changes to Taiwan government policies concerning cross-strait investment, according to the company. Read more |
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Memory backend suppliers gearing up for DDR3 Nov 16, 12:10 With customers pushing the DDR3 generation, memory packaging and testing firms Powertech Technology (PTI), Formosa Advanced Technologies Company (FATC) and Walton Advanced Engineering all estimate DDR3 will contribute 90% to their overall DRAM shipments at the end of 2010, up from 40-50% at end-2009, according to company sources. Read more |
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AMD and Intel announce settlement of all antitrust and IP disputes Nov 13, 16:13 Intel and AMD have announced a comprehensive agreement to end all outstanding legal disputes between the companies, including antitrust litigation and patent cross license disputes. Read more |
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GaAs foundry AWSC to see 50% revenue growth in 2010 Nov 13, 16:11 Advanced Wireless Semiconductor Company (AWSC) has seen order visibility extend to the first half of 2010, and the company estimates revenues next year will grow 50% from 2009, according to market sources. AWSC's major customer Skyworks is expected to increase orders to AWSC in 2010 as it has become the power amplifier (PA) supplier for Apple's new-generation iPhone. Read more |
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TSMC access to SMIC shares depends on government approval, says Chang Nov 13, 15:58 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) will accept the shares offered by Semiconductor Manufacturing International (SMIC) in line with the two companies' lawsuit settlement if the offer is permitted by government laws and regulations, according to TSMC chairman and CEO Morris Chang. Read more |
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Memory IC backend firm Walton positive about 4Q09 Nov 13, 12:13 Walton Advanced Engineering has revised its fourth-quarter revenue guidance to sequential growth, compared to flat revenues that it initially estimated. The memory IC packaging and testing house also forecast revenues for the first quarter of 2010 to hold level, and average monthly revenues next year to top NT$550 million (US$17 million). Read more |
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SPIL to buy factory from PSC for NT$1.78 billion Nov 12, 14:48 Chip packaging and testing house Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL) has announced it will spend NT$1.78 billion (US$54.94 million) buying a factory with production equipment from DRAM maker Powerchip Semiconductor Corporation (PSC) for capacity expansion. Read more |
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ChipMOS expects 4Q09 revenues to stay flat or drop slightly on quarter Nov 12, 12:17 Packaging and testing house ChipMOS Technologies has said revenues for the fourth quarter of 2009 may remain flat or drop by single-digits compared to the third quarter. Demand for LCD driver IC services looks weaker during the quarter, though services for DRAM and mixed-signal ICs stay strong, according to the company. Read more |
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Taiwan LCD equipment self-sufficiency estimated at 60% in 2009 Newswatch - Nov 11, 17:08 Taiwan's self-sufficiency for flat panel display (FPD) equipment is estimated to reach 60% in 2009, and is poised to grow over the next five years, according to the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA). Taiwan is forecast to achieve 83% self-sufficiency in 2015. Read more |
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TSMC board approves US$2.5 billion for 12-inch capacity expansion Nov 11, 12:05 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has announced its board of directors on November 10 approved a budget of around US$2.24 billion to expand advanced technology capacity for 300mm (12-inch) wafer fabs and wafer-level chip scale packaging. The board also approved the allocation of US$254.6 million to expand 12-inch wafer fab facilities. Read more |
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TSMC to receive US$200 million and shares from SMIC Nov 11, 11:38 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Semiconductor Manufacturing International (SMIC) have revealed the terms of a settlement for their trade secrets lawsuit, with the China foundry paying the world's top contract chipmaker US$200 million, plus its own shares. Read more |
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TSMC October revenues up 4% Nov 10, 16:24 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has announced net sales of NT$29.18 billion (US$902 million) for October, an increase of 4.1% over the previous month. The growth appears to buck a seasonal trend that caused United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) to see October revenues slide 2.5% sequentially in the month. Read more |
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IC testing firms KYEC and Sigurd see revenues up slightly in October Nov 10, 14:05 King Yuan Electronics Company (KYEC) and Sigurd Microelectronics both saw their October revenues reach the highest monthly levels for 2009. Both IC testing houses said demand from the PC and handset sectors have not shown contraction despite the arrival of the traditional low season. They estimate revenues for November to remain flat over the previous month. Read more |
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ASE and SPIL revenues hit 2-year high in October Nov 10, 13:46 IC packaging and testing house Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) saw revenues in October 2009 reach a two-year high at NT$4.9 billion (US$152 million), while rival Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL) scored the highest since October 2007, according to the companies. Read more |
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SMIC appoints new CEO after Richard Chang resignation Nov 10, 12:39 Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) has announced that its CEO Richard Chang has resigned to pursue other personal interests. Read more |
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UMC October revenues down slightly Nov 9, 15:26 United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) has announced revenues for October 2009 slid 2.49% sequentially to NT$9.297 billion (US$287 million), ending a 7-month streak of on-month revenue growth. Read more |
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MagnaChip emerges from Chapter 11 Nov 9, 12:05 MagnaChip Semiconductor, a South Korea-based designer and manufacturer of analog and mixed-signal semiconductor products for consumer applications, has issued a statement that its second amended plan for reorganization will become effective today (November 9) allowing it to emerge from Chapter 11. Read more |
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Top-20 chip suppliers 3Q09 revenues up 19% sequentially, says IC Insights Nov 9, 11:35 Global top-20 semiconductor companies, in total, registered a sales growth of 19% sequentially in the third quarter of 2009, according to IC Insights. This followed an on-quarter 19% increase in the second quarter. Read more |
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Driver IC backend supplier revenues down in October 2009 Nov 6, 16:56 Driver IC backend supplier Chipbond Technology saw its October revenues decline by 25.2% to NT$468 million (US$13.39 million) as customers have slowed down their pace of orders, according to the company. The company estimated November revenues to remain similar to levels in October. Read more |
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Nvidia reports growth in fiscal 3Q10 revenues Nov 6, 16:48 Nvidia has reported revenues of US$903.2 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2010 (ended October 25, 2009), up 16% from the previous quarter and up slightly from US$897.7 million reported in the same period a year earlier. Read more |
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Chip sales forecast brighter in 2009, says SIA Nov 6, 15:40 The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has revised upward its estimate of global semiconductor sales for 2009 to a 11.6% decline, resetting its previous projection of negative 21.3%. The industry group also gave more positive growth estimates for 2010 and 2011. Read more |
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Spirox strengthens cooperation with Tektronix Nov 6, 15:05 Taiwan-based high-tech equipment and service solutions provider Spirox has expanded its cooperation with Tektronix by adding more of Tektronix' products such as oscilloscopes to its product offerings, and expects revenues generated to account for more than 10% of its total revenues in 2010, according to the company. Read more |
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TSMC clarifies reports on SMIC lawsuit Stockwatch - Nov 6, 10:35 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has filed a company filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) responding to the verdict recently granted in its favor against Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC). Read more |
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Infineon, TSMC extend collaboration to 65nm Nov 5, 16:35 Infineon Technologies and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) on November 5 announced that their development and production partnership has been extended to a 65nm embedded flash (eFlash) process technology. Based on the agreement, Infineon and TSMC will jointly develop 65nm process technologies for eFlash microcontrollers (MCUs) for automotive, chip card and security applications. Read more |
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Chipbond and IST 4Q09 revenues to drop 20% on quarter Nov 5, 16:23 Chipbond Technology and International Semiconductor Technology (IST) may see sequential revenue drops of almost 20% in the fourth quarter of 2009, in accordance with driver IC design houses' conservative outlooks for the quarter, according to market watchers. Read more |
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