The rebound in the nation’s semiconductor sector is expected to extend through the current quarter, with revenues forecast to rise another 20 percent from the previous quarter because of inventory restocking demand and government-backed consumer spending, a local research house forecast yesterday.
Local semiconductor companies — led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) — posted total revenues of NT$299.4 billion (US$9.1 billion) in the second quarter, up 47.1 percent quarter-on-quarter, statistics compiled by the Industry and Technology Intelligence Services (ITIS) showed.
On an annual basis, however, sales were down 16.7 percent, ITIS figures showed.
This quarter, sales could rise another 19.17 percent sequentially to NT$356.8 billion, the Hsinchu-based researcher projected.
“Seasonal demand and rebounding consumer confidence around the global after the world economy bottomed out are expected to help boost Taiwanese semiconductor companies’ factory usage to around 80 percent or 85 percent,” ITIS said in the report. “So, we expect Taiwan’s semiconductor companies will grow further in the third quarter.”
ITIS raised its annual revenue forecast for Taiwan’s semiconductor industry this year, marking the second time the research house revised its outlook upward. Local semiconductor companies could make a total of NT$1.23 trillion in revenues this year, rather than the NT$1.22 trillion it estimated three months ago.
The revised forecast represents a decline of 8.8 percent year-on-year. ITIS expects local companies to grow again next year, helped by a significant recovery of the global economy.
The revision came after TSMC chairman and chief executive Morris Chang (張忠謀) raised the chipmaker’s revenue forecast for the overall semiconductor industry on July 30.
The semiconductor industry could see a 17 percent annual decline in revenues this year rather than 20 percent TSMC estimated earlier this year, Chang said.
The GDP of the US, one of Taiwan’s major export destinations, is expected to return to positive territory next year and edge up 0.8 percent, ITIS said, citing the IMF’s projection.
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