PICKUP? The chipmaker is hoping for a rebound in 28nm chip demand this quarter, as it continues efforts to secure new design opportunities to rebuild sales momentum

Taipei Times
Date: Jan 25, 2018
By: Lisa Wang  /  Staff reporter

United Microelectronics Corp (UMC, 聯電), the world’s No. 3 contract chipmaker, yesterday reported its weakest net profit in seven quarters due to sluggish demand for mobile phone chips and its advanced 28-nanometer (nm) chips.

Net profit last quarter plunged 30.5 percent to NT$1.77 billion (US$60.41 million), compared with NT$2.55 billion in the same period of 2016, the company’s financial statement showed.

That also represented a quarterly contraction of 50 percent from NT$3.47 billion, due to a significant decline in investment gains, the statement said.

UMC expects revenue to be little changed this quarter from last quarter’s NT$36.63 billion as robust overall demand should offset continuing weakness in 28-nanometer chips.    [FULL  STORY]