by Alan Patterson, EETimes
TAIPEI, Apr. 27, 2016 –
United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC), the world's third-largest foundry, said that by the second half of 2016, it expects business to recover from a slump that impacted demand for communications chips starting last year.
UMC's forecast matches that of its biggest rival, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), which said it expects demand to pick up during the latter half of 2016. Overall sales growth in the foundry segment slowed to 4.4% in 2015 from 16% in 2014, according to market research firm Gartner Inc.
"The inventory correction has completed its course, with normal seasonal patterns resuming for the first half of 2016," UMC CEO Po-Wen Yen said in a prepared statement to announce the company's first quarter 2016 results.