Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is expected to report sales growth of more than 10% sequentially for the third quarter of 2012, beating the foundry's guidance given in July, according to market sources.
However, consolidated sales at TSMC will likely decrease over 10% on quarter in the fourth quarter of 2012, the sources indicated. The foundry's overall sales for 2012 are set to slip from the record level of NT$427.08 billion reached in 2011, the sources said.
TSMC's consolidated revenues climbed to a record NT$49.5 billion (US$1.69 billion) in August. While disclosing the sales figure for August, The foundry said that overall sales for the current third quarter would slightly exceed the 6-9% increase estimated previously.
TSMC announced brisk results for the second quarter of 2012, which met the high end of its guidance. At the company's most-recent investors meeting, TSMC said that it expected to post another sequential growth in the third quarter, but at a more modest pace compared with the on-quarter growth seen in the second quarter.
TSMC chairman and CEO Morris Chang previously predicted that the company might see sequential dips in the fourth quarter of 2012 and first-quarter 2013, citing weakness in the US economy and concerns about rising inventory levels in the supply chain and among customers.
TSMC is expected to discuss its business outlook for the last quarter of 2012 at its next investors meeting held in October.
Article translated by Jessie Shen
