Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has provided positive guidance for the second quarter of 2010, and upwardly revised its forecast for 2010 global semiconductor and foundry growth. The world's largest contract chipmaker also revealed planned capacity expansions for 2010, but said capex for the year remain unchanged.
"Business continues to be brisk. Relative to the first quarter, the consumer and communication segments in the second quarter will increase while the computer segment will remain flat," TSMC CFO Lora Ho said. TSMC now predicts its consolidated revenues for the second quarter of 2010 will be between NT$100 billion (US$3.2 billion) and NT$102 billion, up from NT$92.19 billion in the prior quarter and NT$74.21 billion a year earlier.
Speaking at the company's quarterly investors conference yesterday, TSMC chairman and CEO Morris Chang forecast the global semiconductor market will grow 22% in sales this year, and the foundry segment is expected to see a larger 36% increase. He previously estimated sales in the global foundry market would rise 29% in 2010, and the overall chip sector 18%.
Chang also raised his projections for 2010 PC and handset market growth to 17% and 13%, respectively. Estimated growth for the 2010 consumer electronics sector remains unchanged at 7%, Chang added.
TSMC is on track to complete Phase 5 expansion at its 12-inch Fab 12 located at the Hsinchu Science Park (HSP), and Phase 4 at its 12-inch Fab 14 at the Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP) in 2010, according to Chang.
TSMC also plans to break ground for its third 12-inch fab at the Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP) in the middle of this year, said Chang, adding that the new plant will initially be equipped for 40nm processes with plans for 28nm and 20nm nodes.
TSMC's capex plan for 2010 remains unchanged at US$4.8 billion, according to Chang. The capex goal shows a 45% rise compared with the all-time record level of US$3.3 billion reached in 2000.
TSMC chairman Morris Chang, right, and Shang-yi Chiang, head of R&D
Photo: Terry Ku, Digitimes, April 2010
Article translated by Jessie Shen
