Chinese chipmaker starts equipping advanced plant

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (中芯國際集成電路), China's largest chipmaker, said it had started moving in production equipment at the first factory in China to make 12-inch silicon wafers.

The plant, located in Beijing, will start production in the second half this year, the company said in an e-mailed statement.

The Shanghai-based company competes with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) and United Microelectronics Corp (UMC, 聯電), the world's two largest made-to-order chipmakers.

The new plant will reach full capacity, equivalent to 45,000 eight-inch wafers per month, by the end of next year, the company said. TSMC and UMC started production of 12-inch wafers about three years ago.