Taiwan's Leading Silicon Foundries Hit New Revenue Highs in October
2014/11/20 | By Ken LiuTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC) and Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp. (VIS)—major pure silicon foundries in Taiwan—saw revenues hit fresh all-time highs in October.
TSMC had revenue of NT$80.73 billion (US$2.69 billion) in that month, surging a better-than-expected 7.9% from a month earlier and 55.9% year on year to above the NT$80 million milestone for the first time. UMC had NT$13.49 billion (US$449.86 million), rising 10.1% from the previous month and 28.93% year on year. VIS reported NT$2.15 billion (US$71.7 million), gaining a staggering 18.8% month over month.
Industry executives attribute such revenue growths to brisk global market for silicon foundry services, for which Taiwan's suppliers are crucial.
TSMC's October growth was mostly driven by swarming orders for contract chip manufacturing using 20nm and 28nm processes. Its October revenue has attained 37% of the Q4 goal, with the company projected to generate total revenue of NT$217-220 billion (US$7.23-7.33 billion) by yearend.
Throughout the first 10 months this year, TSMC had total revenue of NT$621.02 billion (US$20.70 billion), up 23.5% YoY.
UMC's October growth is mostly due to surging contracts for services using 28nm and 40nm process technologies and increased deliveries by its photovoltaic business. In Jan.-Oct., it had revenue of NT$116.27 billion (US$3.87 billion), climbing 12.27% YoY.
VIS attributes strong October growth mostly to ample orders for customized power-management ICs and drive ICs as well as the revenue contributed by a 200mm wafer fab acquired from Nanya Technology Corp. of the Formosa Plastics Group (FPG). (KL)
Oct. 2014 Revenues of Taiwan's Leading Silicon Foundries
| Company
| UMC
| TSMC
| VIS
|
| Revenue
| NT$13.49bn
| NT$80.73bn
| NT$2.15bn
|
| MoM change (%)
| 10.10
| 7.90
| 18.80
|
| Forecast for Q4 consolidated revenue
| Low single digit increase
| Up 4-5%
| Flat
|