Design & Reuse

Drop in Foundry Sales Sends a Warning Signal

Alan Patterson, EETimes
7/10/2015 10:59 AM EDT

TAIPEI — Brace yourselves.

For the first time in more than three years, the world’s two biggest foundries have posted negative monthly revenue figures at the same time.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world’s largest chip foundry, yesterday said its revenue in June this year dropped by 0.6% compared with the same month a year ago. That’s the first time the company recorded negative sales growth since January 2012.

TSMC’s next door neighbor, United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC), said its June revenue fell by 2.8% from the same period a year ago.