Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) yesterday reported sales of NT$30.22 billion (US$934 million) last month, representing a rise of 4.4 percent month-on-month.
On an annual basis, that represented an increase of 2.5 percent, a company statement said.
Last month’s sales came after two straight monthly declines and backed TSMC’s revised outlook.
TSMC’s figures came after local rival United Microelectronics Corp (UMC, 聯電) said on Monday that its sales leapt 17.58 percent to NT$9.3 billion last month from NT$7.91 billion a year ago. The figure was still a fall of 2.49 percent month-on-month.
Two weeks ago, TSMC chairman Morris Chang (張忠謀) raised his forecast for global semiconductor revenues, predicting annual growth in the mid-single digit range this quarter, up from a low-single digit projection in July. The revision was primarily the result of stronger demand for PCs.
TSMC expected fourth-quarter revenues to reach between NT$90 billion and NT$92 billion from last quarter’s NT$89.94 billion on the back of higher demand for consumer electronics.
In the first 10 months, TSMC generated NT$233.87 billion in sales, down 21.5 percent from NT$298.09 billion for the same period last year as a result of the global economic slump.
The Hsinchu-based company’s board yesterday approved capital appropriations of US$2.24 billion to expand advanced technology capacity at its 12-inch wafer fabs and expand its advanced chip testing and packaging services, TSMC said in a statement.
It also agreed to invest US$2.55 billion in expanding 12-inch wafer fab facilities and approved the appointment of Jack Sun (孫元成) as chief technology officer.
Shares of TSMC rose 0.83 percent to NT$60.5, while UMC stocks lost 0.64 percent to close at NT$15.6 yesterday.
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