HSINCHU, Taiwan -- The unprecedented plunge in silicon foundry revenues could be showing signs of easing, based on July sales data released today by the world's two largest foundry companies here.
For the first time since early this year, foundry revenues grew on a month-to-month basis in July at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. TSMC reported a 1% increase in sales to NT$8.60 billion ($249 million) compared to NT$8.52 billion ($246 million). However, TSMC's July sales were 42.7% lower than NT$15.02 billion ($434 million).
Meanwhile, United Microelectronics Corp. here today said its sales declined slowed in July. The world's second largest pure-play chip foundry company reported an 8.6% decline to NT$3.87 billion ($113 million) in July from NT$4.24 billion ($121 million) in June. UMC's sales drop was less than the month-to-month decline of 14.4% reported for June, but last month's revenues were 58.5% below NT$9.33 billion ($270 million).
A spokeswoman for TSMC said the company's revenues apparently hit the bottom in the current downturn during May and June, and she said sales have taken a "gradual upturn." The spokesperson also said TSMC's book-to-bill ratio (new orders vs. processed wafer shipments) moved above 1.0 in July. TSMC continues to believes business will gradually improve during the second half of 2001, she said.
For the first seven months of 2001, TSMC revenues were NT$74.42 billion ($2.15 billion), a decline of 6.9% from NT$79.93 billion ($2.31 billion) in the same period last year.
UMC's sales in the first seven months of 2001 were NT$42.47 billion ($1.23 billion), a 20% drop from NT$53.08 billion ($1.53 billion) in the same period last year.
The new monthly sales reports support the general feeling that foundry revenues have hit the bottom in the current slump. With foundry fab utilization rates falling to the 25-to-35% range in the third quarter, Dataquest Inc. is predicting that those rates will gradually recovery but only reaching about 60% in the second quarter of 2002. Dataquest's latest forecast shows worldwide silicon foundry revenues dropping more than 25% to about $10.1 billion from around $13.7 billion in 2000.
RSS
Digital
10 emerging technologies to watch:
EE Times has compiled a list of emerging technologies that we think will be worth watching out for in 2010. Biofeedback or thought-control of electronics are among the contenders.
Hot applications in 2010:
We've compiled a list of 10 technology applications you should watch for in 2010, ranging from e-book readers to 3-D TVs. We examine the features that make these apps so compelling as well unresolved issues.
Top 25 predictions for semis in 2010:
2010 is just beginning to unfold in the electronics industry. Looking into our crystal ball, we have released our own chip forecasts--and other predictions--for 2010.
Seven things to fix in 2010:
The editors of EE Times came up with their own informal list of things we hope engineers fix in 2010, spanning everything from nano-lithography to space travel. What do you want to see get done this year?
'09 moves that are shaping the future:
This was a brutal year, but the industry gets a nod for showing grace under fire. Here's our Top 10 guide to the coming year, illustrating what to expect in 2010.
10 CEOs out in 2009:
It's been a tough year for the global electronics industry and CEOs. We survey the dismissal of 10 industry CEOs during the first three quarters of 2009 and what's ahead for the rest of the year.
Notable women in microelectronics:
There is no better time than a global economic recession to examine the keys to successful corporate governance. So, EE Times has compiled an international list that celebrates women who are business and technology leaders in semis.
EE Times updates Silicon 60:
Seventeen companies have been added to the lastest version of our Silicon 60 list of emerging startups. Forty-three companies survived as emerging companies that are still worth watching.
RSS| 
Digital| 
Mobile
