PTI 1Q12 sales to drop up to 10%, says chairman

Feb 10, 01:30

Memory packaging and testing specialist Powertech Technology (PTI) now expects its sales to decrease up to 10% sequentially in the first quarter of 2012, company chairman DK Tsai said during a February 9 investors conference. Tsai previously estimated a larger 10-15% decline.

Macronix 2011 profits slip

Feb 9, 16:43

Macronix International, a manufacturer of mask ROM and NOR flash memory, has announced that net profits for 2011 declined 63% to NT$2.72 billion (NT$99.1 million). Revenues for the year were NT$27.84 billion, up 1%.

More Taiwan makers stepping into NAND flash production

Feb 9, 14:19

Winbond Electronics has revealed plans to venture into the manufacture of NAND flash memory, joining fellow Taiwan-based memory makers Powerchip Technology and Macronix International.

Elpida dismisses reports it plans to sell Hiroshima plant

Feb 9, 01:00

Elpida Memory has dismissed a Nikkei report that the Japan-based memory chipmaker is looking to sell its plant in Hiroshima.

NOR flash prices expected to stabilize

Feb 8, 12:18

Having fallen dramatically during 2011, prices for NOR flash memory are expected to stabilize this year, according to industry sources.

Winbond, Macronix post drops in January sales

Feb 8, 11:36

Winbond Electronics and Macronix International have both reported decreases in January 2012 revenues from the previous month.

Rambus buys Unity Semi for US$35 million

Feb 7, 15:46

Rambus has acquired privately-held Unity Semiconductor, which develops NAND flash successor technologies, for US$35 million in cash, according to the technology licensing company.

Rexchip posts revenue growth in January

Feb 6, 14:34

Rexchip Electronics, the Taiwan-based production subsidiary of Japan's Elpida Memory, has reported revenues for January 2012 grew 35.1% sequentially and 7.4% from a year ago to NT$2.31 billion (US$78.2 million). The result made it the only Taiwan-based DRAM company that managed on-year revenue growth...

Global 4Q11 NAND flash market registers 8.6% decline, says DRAMeXchange

Feb 4, 16:30

The worldwide NAND flash memory market posted revenues of US$4.89 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011, down 8.6% sequentially, according to DRAMeXchange. Samsung Electronics remained the largest supplier with a 34.6% market share.

Silicon Motion 3-bit per cell controller sales receive boost in 4Q11

Feb 4, 15:25

Silicon Motion Technology saw sales of 3-bit per cell (TLC) NAND flash controllers grow substantially to account for almost 50% of its overall controller revenues in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to the company.

Taiwan DRAM makers post mixed January results

Feb 4, 12:41

Revenues at Nanya Technology registered a 28% sequential increase in January 2012 while Inotera Memories' grew 0.2% on month. Powerchip Technology, however, saw its January sales decrease about 22% on quarter due to falling shipments.

Memory spot market weak after Lunar New Year, says inSpectrum

Feb 3, 16:50

A week-long Lunar New Year holiday failed to stimulate the memory market in China, according to inSpectrum. With the Europe and US markets quiet as well, demand has been weaker than expected, the firm noted.

Elpida posts larger loss in fiscal 3Q11

Feb 3, 01:00

Elpida Memory has reported net losses of JPY42.1 billion (US$553 million) for its fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2011 compared to losses of JPY29.6 billion a year ago. Consolidated revenues declined 38.4% on year to JPY59.8 billion in the quarter, due to falling chip ASPs and bit shipments...

Innostor breaks into supply chain of Lenovo with USB 3.0 device controllers

Feb 2, 15:49

Innostor Technology has cut into the supply chain of Lenovo with its USB 3.0 flash drive controllers, according to industry sources, adding that shipments will start in March.

Hynix posts second straight quarterly loss

Feb 2, 11:56

Memory chip maker Hynix Semiconductor has posted its second straight quarterly loss in the fourth quarter. The company swung into the red in 2011 with revenues down 14% from a year earlier.

Wireless displaces PC as top semiconductor spending area for OEMs in 2011, says IHS

Feb 2, 11:20

Propelled by the red-hot appeal of items like Apple's iPhone and iPad, the wireless communications sphere surpassed computers to lead all segments in semiconductor-related spending among the world's leading OEMs in 2011, according to IHS iSuppli.

Phison posts 2011 pre-tax EPS of NT$16.69

Feb 2, 01:00

Phison Electronics has announced it made solid earnings in 2011 thanks to its cost advantage over fellow flash memory controller firms. The company is migrating to 55nm processing with mass production scheduled for the second quarter of 2012.

Powerchip, Rexchip post 2011 losses

Feb 1, 15:34

DRAM memory makers Powerchip Technology and Rexchip Electronics have both swung to net losses in 2011 from profits a year earlier.

4GB DRAM contract prices going up

Feb 1, 11:47

Contract prices for 4GB DDR3 DRAM modules trended upward in the second half of January, benefiting suppliers who now have their newer 30nm-class chips.

Semiconductor industry revenues to endure slow growth in 2012, IHS says

Feb 1, 10:51

With global economic prospects remaining uncertain and semiconductor inventory not moving quickly enough to stimulate new production, the worldwide chip market is expected to suffer a slow year in 2012 marked by sluggish growth, according to IHS iSuppli.

Possible versions to fix Elpida debt repayment crunch

Jan 31, 15:26

Japan-based memory chipmaker Elpida Memory reportedly is struggling to repay its debts due by early April, and therefore is exploring various options to raise funds in time. Industry observers speculate on some possible directions that Elpida might choose in fixing the immediate problem.

Samsung posts record profit in 4Q11

Jan 30, 14:10

Booming smartphone sales made Samsung Electronics' latest quarter its most profitable quarter ever, according to the company.

Micron to buy US$500 million worth of Elpida shares, says report

Newswatch - Jan 30, 11:29

Micron Technology reportedly will spend at least US$500 million to buy a stake in Japan rival Elpida Memory, according to a Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN) report. The speculation came on the heels of various other media reports that Elpida would propose an equity tie-up with Micron...

Elpida develops resistance RAM prototype

Jan 30, 11:20

Elpida Memory has announced that the company has developed its first-ever high-speed non-volatile resistance memory (ReRAM) prototype, jointly with Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Built using a 50nm process technology, the prototype chip has a memory cell...

Nanya reducing exposure in PC DRAM market

Jan 20, 01:20

DRAM maker Nanya Technology has seen sales of products for non-PC applications account for 50% of company revenues. The proportion is expected to further expand in 2012.

Packaging and testing firms to post 5-10% drop in 1Q12

Jan 20, 01:05

Revenues at semiconductor packaging and testing houses will likely register a 5-10% sequential decrease in the first quarter of 2012, affected by fewer working days, according to industry observers.

DRAM firms should consider merging, say Nanya and Inotera executives

Jan 19, 16:30

DRAM makers should consider uniting to tackle industry issues, according to CC Wu, chairman for Nanya Technology. Charles Kau, president of Inotera Memories, also echoed Wu's statement saying that consolidation at some point is inevitable in this challenging environment.

Nanya reports larger loss for 2011

Jan 19, 01:00

DRAM chipmaker Nanya Technology's net losses for 2011 widened to NT$39.88 billion (US$1.33 billion) from NT$15.13 billion a year ago. Revenues declined 35% on year to NT$36.74 billion in 2011, according to the company.

TSMC reports EPS of NT$5.18 for 2011

Jan 18, 16:22

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has reported NT$134.2 billion (US$4.58 billion) in net profits for 2011, down 17.1% on year but staying at a high level as compared to 2009 and before. EPS came to NT$5.18.

Early January NAND flash prices flat as buyers wait-and-see

Jan 18, 13:39

With buyers taking a wait-and-see approach prior the Lunar New Year holiday, contract prices for NAND flash chips saw slight decreases to flat growth in the first half of January, according to DRAMeXchange. The price tracker expects prices to reflect bullish market sentiment after the week-long holiday,...

DRAM contract prices gearing up for rally, says DRAMeXchange

Jan 17, 01:40

DRAM contract prices for the first half of January have registered flat growth, and are set to rise in February, according to DRAMeXchange.

Nanya welcomes cooperation with Elpida

Jan 17, 01:25

Nanya Technology will not exclude the possibility of discussing with Japan's Elpida Memory and its existing partner Micron Technology about a potential tie-up, according to company chairman CC Wu.

NAND flash demand to soar in 2012 due to eMMC, SSD, Wi-Fi mobile storage

Jan 16, 11:04

Global demand for NAND flash is expected to drastically increase due to fast growing demand for eMMCs, SSDs (solid-state drives) and Wi-Fi wireless mobile storage devices, according to sources with memory product makers.

ProMOS seeking to settle debts with banks

Jan 13, 01:20

ProMOS Technologies has submitted an application to Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) for debt negotiations with its creditor banks, according to the cash-strapped DRAM maker.

Powerchip raises NT$314 million by selling Apacer shares

Stockwatch - Jan 13, 01:00

Powerchip Technology has raised NT$314 million (US$10.5 million) by selling its entire stake in memory module maker Apacer Technology, according to a company filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange.

SuperSpeed USB-enabled device shipments to top one billion in 2014, says In-Stat

Jan 11, 15:02

SuperSpeed USB-enabled device shipments are on a fast track and will surpass one billion in 2014, up from 70 million in 2011, according to In-Stat.

Transcend Information looks to SSD market potential in 2012

Jan 11, 01:10

Transcend Information has shifted its focus from DRAM to NAND flash and, in view of growing demand for consumer SSDs due to increasing sales of ultrabooks and mature technological development of SATA 6Gbps, will enhance marketing of this product line in 2012, according to company chairman Peter Su.

Winbond likely to stay in red in 4Q11

Jan 10, 12:10

Winbond Electronics, which swung to a small loss in the third quarter of 2011, is likely to stay in the red in the last quarter of the year due to declining sales of NOR flash and specialty DRAM (SDRAM) memories, according to market observers.

DRAM spot prices continue rally, says inSpectrum

Jan 9, 12:21

Elpida's raising DRAM price did not have a signifcaint impact on the spot market in the first week of 2012 although higher quotes from suppliers amid limited supply continued to provide momentum for a rising pricing trend, according to inSpectrum. However, overall demand for DRAM was not as strong...

Macronix 4Q11 sales beat guidance

Jan 9, 11:08

Macronix International has reported higher than expected revenues for the fourth quarter of 2011, thanks to strong shipments of ROM products for handheld games consoles.

Inventory surge adds to DRAM woes, says IHS

Jan 6, 11:35

Already besieged by low demand and bleak growth prospects, the market for DRAM is encountering yet another dispiriting obstacle - an alarming rise in inventory that threatens to further sink the industry, according to IHS iSuppli.