The nation will overtake the US to become the world's second-biggest microchip supplier this year, the Central News Agency (CNA) reported yesterday, citing a report by Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI).
The nation will account for 18 percent of global semiconductors, behind Japan with 24 percent, the report said.
12-INCH WAFERS
The semiconductor sector has been boosted by the continuing expansion of plants producing 12-inch wafers in Taiwan, ITRI analyst Peng Kuo-chu (
Peng said that memory chip production and contract chipmaking had become the mainstay of the global semiconductor sector since 2000, with Taiwan and South Korea reporting the biggest output expansion in 12-inch wafers since then.
In the three months to December, the nation's semiconductor makers are forecast to churn out 595,000 12-inch wafers, 16 percent more than a year ago, Peng said.
Output of 12-inch wafers has grown more than 10 percent in the last five quarters, he said.
The US and South Korea are expected to tie for third place, with a 17 percent market share each.
PRODUCTIVE REGION
Boosted by output expansion from countries such as Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore and China, semiconductor output in the Asia-Pacific region excluding Japan will account for 47 percent of the world's total, the report said.
The ITRI report came on the heels of a report by technology researcher Gartner that said major chip makers would scale back capital spending next year, citing a gloomy outlook for the sector.
Gartner cut next year's global spending outlook for chip equipment to US$44 billion -- a 4 percent drop from the forecast it made in July.
CALL FOR SUPPORT: President William Lai called on lawmakers across party lines to ensure the livelihood of Taiwanese and that national security is protected President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday called for bipartisan support for Taiwan’s investment in self-defense capabilities at the christening and launch of two coast guard vessels at CSBC Corp, Taiwan’s (台灣國際造船) shipyard in Kaohsiung. The Taipei (台北) is the fourth and final ship of the Chiayi-class offshore patrol vessels, and the Siraya (西拉雅) is the Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) first-ever ocean patrol vessel, the government said. The Taipei is the fourth and final ship of the Chiayi-class offshore patrol vessels with a displacement of about 4,000 tonnes, Lai said. This ship class was ordered as a result of former president Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) 2018
UKRAINE, NVIDIA: The US leader said the subject of Russia’s war had come up ‘very strongly,’ while Jenson Huang was hoping that the conversation was good Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and US President Donald Trump had differing takes following their meeting in Busan, South Korea, yesterday. Xi said that the two sides should complete follow-up work as soon as possible to deliver tangible results that would provide “peace of mind” to China, the US and the rest of the world, while Trump hailed the “great success” of the talks. The two discussed trade, including a deal to reduce tariffs slapped on China for its role in the fentanyl trade, as well as cooperation in ending the war in Ukraine, among other issues, but they did not mention
HOTEL HIRING: An official said that hoteliers could begin hiring migrant workers next year, but must adhere to a rule requiring a NT$2,000 salary hike for Taiwanese The government is to allow the hospitality industry to recruit mid-level migrant workers for housekeeping and three other lines of work after the Executive Yuan yesterday approved a proposal by the Ministry of Labor. A shortage of workers at hotels and accommodation facilities was discussed at a meeting of the legislature’s Transportation Committee. A 2023 survey conducted by the Tourism Administration found that Taiwan’s lodging industry was short of about 6,600 housekeeping and cleaning workers, the agency said in a report to the committee. The shortage of workers in the industry is being studied, the report said. Hotel and Lodging Division Deputy Director Cheng
TOKYO SUMMIT: The new Japanese PM’s words have demonstrated Japan’s ‘firm position on urging the prioritization of cross-strait peace,’ the foreign ministry said Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) yesterday thanked US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for supporting peace in the Taiwan Strait, a day after the two at a summit in Tokyo emphasized the importance of regional stability and ahead of a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) in South Korea today. The previous day’s meeting was the first time Takaichi had met with the US leader since becoming Japanese prime minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Since taking office on Tuesday last week, Takaichi has urged the international community to
RSS