PRODUCTION PLAN:An executive said the firm’s next-generation integrated fan-out packaging technology, likely to be used in iPhones, is to start production this quarter

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 15, 2016
By: Lisa Wang / Staff reporter

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) yesterday forecast single-digit percentage growth in revenue this quarter — falling short of market expectations — after posting the lowest net profit in about one-and-half years last quarter.

TSMC, which supplies chips for Apple Inc’s iPhone series, expects growth momentum to magnify from next quarter as customers roll out new products, which are likely to help stimulate demand for its technologies used in high-end smartphones.

Revenue for the second quarter is expected to grow 6 to 7 percent to between NT$215 billion and NT$218 billion (US$6.63 billion and US$6.72 billion) this quarter, from NT$203.5 billion in the first quarter, the chipmaker said.

The growth rate is slower than the 9 percent sequential increase estimated by Credit Suisse Group AG analyst Randy Abrams and 13 percent growth predicted by HSBC Group PLC analyst Steven Pelayo.     [FULL  STORY]