IC packaging and testing service providers are expected to see sales in the third quarter grow about 10 percent from the second quarter, largely on the back of strong demand for mobile communication devices, market analysts said on Saturday.
In addition to higher smartphone and tablet computer sales, the rising popularity of 4K2K ultra-high-definition televisions is likely to boost demand for IC packaging and testing services in the current quarter, they said.
Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc (ASE, 日月光半導體) chief operating officer Tien Wu (吳田玉) said smartphone and tablet vendors are expected to launch new models in the third quarter, boosting demand for packaging and testing services for mobile device chips.
Wu said that although the global personal computer market remains sluggish, it could still serve as one of the drivers of growth in the IC packaging and testing services sector.
ASE, the world’s largest IC packaging and testing service provider, forecast quarterly sales growth in the second half of the year and expects its annual revenue growth to surpass that of the entire industry.
Analysts said ASE’s consolidated sales are expected grow by at least 9 percent this year from the NT$193.97 billion (US$6.47 billion) recorded last year, when sales rose 5 percent from 2011.
For its part, Siliconware Precision Industries Co (矽品精密) said the global semiconductor industry would witness improved sales in the second half from the first, in turn boosting the IC packaging and testing sector.
Siliconware chairman Bough Lin (林文伯) said he had particular confidence in the demand for high-end IC packaging and testing services in view of growing smartphone, tablet and gaming console sales.
Lin said the high demand will likely see the high-end IC packaging and testing service segment experience a supply shortage in the second half.
Analysts said Siliconware could post sequential sales growth of 10 percent in the third quarter.
As sales of 4K2K TVs in China continues to grow, demand for driver ICs for LCD panels is seeing parallel growth, analysts said, adding that the trend was benefiting packaging and testing services providers for driver ICs, such as Chipbond Technology Corp (頎邦科技).
Analysts forecast Chipbond orders for the third quarter would grow 10 percent from the previous quarter.
purpose: Tesla’s CEO sought to meet senior Chinese officials to discuss the rollout of its ‘full self-driving’ software in China and approval to transfer data they had collected Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk arrived in Beijing yesterday on an unannounced visit, where he is expected to meet senior officials to discuss the rollout of "full self-driving" (FSD) software and permission to transfer data overseas, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Chinese state media reported that he met Premier Li Qiang (李強) in Beijing, during which Li told Musk that Tesla's development in China could be regarded as a successful example of US-China economic and trade cooperation. Musk confirmed his meeting with the premier yesterday with a post on social media platform X. "Honored to meet with Premier Li
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: The chipmaker last month raised its capital spending by 28 percent for this year to NT$32 billion from a previous estimate of NT$25 billion Contract chipmaker Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (力積電子) yesterday launched a new 12-inch fab, tapping into advanced chip-on-wafer-on-substrate (CoWoS) packaging technology to support rising demand for artificial intelligence (AI) devices. Powerchip is to offer interposers, one of three parts in CoWoS packaging technology, with shipments scheduled for the second half of this year, Powerchip chairman Frank Huang (黃崇仁) told reporters on the sidelines of a fab inauguration ceremony in the Tongluo Science Park (銅鑼科學園區) in Miaoli County yesterday. “We are working with customers to supply CoWoS-related business, utilizing part of this new fab’s capacity,” Huang said, adding that Powerchip intended to bridge
Dutch brewing company Heineken NV on Friday announced an investment of NT$13.5 billion (US$414.62 million) over the next five years in Taiwan. The first multinational brewing company to operate in Taiwan, Heineken made the statement at a ceremony held at its brewery in Pingtung County. It also outlined its efforts to make the brewery “net zero” by 2030. Heineken has been in the Taiwanese market for 20 years, Heineken Taiwan managing director Jeff Wu (吳建甫) said. With strong support from local consumers, the Dutch brewery decided to transition from sales to manufacturing in the country, Wu said. Heineken assumed majority ownership and management rights
Microsoft Corp yesterday said that it would create Thailand’s first data center region to boost cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, promising AI training to more than 100,000 people to develop tech. Bangkok is a key economic player in Southeast Asia, but it has lagged behind Indonesia and Singapore when it comes to the tech industry. Thailand has an “incredible opportunity to build a digital-first, AI-powered future,” Microsoft chairman and chief executive officer Satya Nadella said at an event in Bangkok. Data center regions are physical locations that store computing infrastructure, allowing secure and reliable access to cloud platforms. The global embrace of AI