Taiwan’s three science parks posted a record combined revenue of NT$1.71 trillion (US$61.69 billion) for the first half of this year, up 25.2 percent year-on-year and the fastest increase in almost eight years, the Ministry of Science and Technology told a news conference in Taipei yesterday.
The three parks — Hsinchu Science Park (新竹科學園區), the Central Taiwan Science Park (中部科學園區) and the Southern Taiwan Science Park (南部科學園區) — generated combined exports of about NT$1.28 trillion in the first six months of the year, also a new high, the ministry said.
The ministry attributed the the three science parks’ performance to continued global demand for 5G, high-performance computing and other new tech applications.
Photo: CNA
The three parks provided jobs for 295,000 people, up 3.5 percent year-on-year and also a new high, it said.
Imports to the parks totaled NT$493.08 billion, up 22.5 percent year-on-year, on increased prices of raw materials and electronic components, the ministry said.
Hsinchu Science Park posted revenue of NT$743.97 billion in the first half of the year, up 31.42 percent annually, thanks to growth in demand for electronics, and information and communications technology, as well as other high-tech products, the ministry said.
Photo: CNA
Central Taiwan Science Park reported revenue of NT$482.79 billion over the same period, up 11.48 percent year-on-year, mostly on continued demand for 5G, artificial intelligence, automotive electronics and high-performance computing applications.
Southern Taiwan Science Park, home to the most advanced 5-nanometer chip making process, saw revenue jump to NT$480.06 billion, up 31.74 percent year-on-year, the ministry said.
Minister of Science and Technology Wu Tsung-tsong (吳政忠) said that due to the stay-at-home economy and an increase in distance learning and working, the optical product sector shook off the doldrums experienced in the past few years years and revenue jumped 35.44 percent.
The integrated circuit sector placed second with regards to growth. It saw revenue grow 24.29 percent, while the computer and peripherals sector followed with an increase of 20.77 percent.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, has a presence at all three science parks, accounting for 17 percent of overall revenue in Hsinchu Science Park, 42.27 percent in the Central Taiwan Science Park and 55 percent in the Southern Taiwan Science Park, ministry data showed.
TSMC made up 34 percent of the three science parks’ combined revenue, a slight decline from last year’s 41 percent, the data showed.
The ministry said it anticipates a continued increase in demand in the second half of the year as the global economic environment improves.
It predicted whole-year growth of 15 percent for the three science parks’ combined revenue this year.
Separately, TSMC’s rumored expansion in Kaohsiung is likely to help the chipmaker hedge against water shortage risks, Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (台灣經濟研究院) researcher Arisa Liu (劉佩真) told Central News Agency (CNA) yesterday.
Local media reported last week that TSMC is considering building a new 7-nanometer hub in Kaohsiung’s Linyuan District (林園).
Liu said that TSMC is “most likely” to invest in a new facility in Kaohsiung, as the three major science parks have become increasingly saturated with businesses.
“I anticipate with a TSMC foundry acting as a magnet, Kaohsiung can create a new semiconductor industrial cluster and that would be beneficial to balancing the development between the different regions in Taiwan,” Liu told CNA.
NOT JUSTIFIED: The bank’s governor said there would only be a rate cut if inflation falls below 1.5% and economic conditions deteriorate, which have not been detected The central bank yesterday kept its key interest rates unchanged for a fifth consecutive quarter, aligning with market expectations, while slightly lowering its inflation outlook amid signs of cooling price pressures. The move came after the US Federal Reserve held rates steady overnight, despite pressure from US President Donald Trump to cut borrowing costs. Central bank board members unanimously voted to maintain the discount rate at 2 percent, the secured loan rate at 2.375 percent and the overnight lending rate at 4.25 percent. “We consider the policy decision appropriate, although it suggests tightening leaning after factoring in slackening inflation and stable GDP growth,”
DIVIDED VIEWS: Although the Fed agreed on holding rates steady, some officials see no rate cuts for this year, while 10 policymakers foresee two or more cuts There are a lot of unknowns about the outlook for the economy and interest rates, but US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled at least one thing seems certain: Higher prices are coming. Fed policymakers voted unanimously to hold interest rates steady at a range of 4.25 percent to 4.50 percent for a fourth straight meeting on Wednesday, as they await clarity on whether tariffs would leave a one-time or more lasting mark on inflation. Powell said it is still unclear how much of the bill would fall on the shoulders of consumers, but he expects to learn more about tariffs
Greek tourism student Katerina quit within a month of starting work at a five-star hotel in Halkidiki, one of the country’s top destinations, because she said conditions were so dire. Beyond the bad pay, the 22-year-old said that her working and living conditions were “miserable and unacceptable.” Millions holiday in Greece every year, but its vital tourism industry is finding it harder and harder to recruit Greeks to look after them. “I was asked to work in any department of the hotel where there was a need, from service to cleaning,” said Katerina, a tourism and marketing student, who would
i Gasoline and diesel prices at fuel stations are this week to rise NT$0.1 per liter, as tensions in the Middle East pushed crude oil prices higher last week, CPC Corp, Taiwan (台灣中油) and Formosa Petrochemical Corp (台塑石化) said yesterday. International crude oil prices last week rose for the third consecutive week due to an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, as the market is concerned that the situation in the Middle East might affect crude oil supply, CPC and Formosa said in separate statements. Front-month Brent crude oil futures — the international oil benchmark — rose 3.75 percent to settle at US$77.01
RSS