DRAM Manufacturers' Earnings Expected to Top US$160M in Q4
September 21, 2000 (TAIPEI) -- The price of dynamic random access memory is likely to bottom out at the end of September, as the appearance of the new Windows Me operating system, actively promoted by leading companies, is expected to boost DRAM demand.
Winbond Electronics Corp., Nanya Technology Corp., Promos Technologies Inc. and Powerchip Semiconductor Corp. all expect to enjoy profits of at least NT$5 billion in the fourth quarter if 64Mb DRAM prices manage to stay above US$8 per unit at that time.
The U.S. IC Exchange reported that the spot price of 64Mb DRAM (8M x 8) fell to around US$6.9 recently. In Taiwan, the spot and contract prices have remained stable at US$7 and US$8.3, respectively, after 64Mb DRAM distributors stopped dumping their ample DRAM inventories.
Leading local DRAM manufacturers have good reasons to be optimistic about their sales in September, despite the recent fall in DRAM unit prices. Powerchip Semicon, Nanya Tech and Promos Tech intend to launch their wafers based on the 0.175-micron manufacturing process in September or October, thereby probably boosting their 64Mb DRAM production by between 10 percent and 40 percent. Manufacturing costs are expected to be only US$3 to US$3.20 per memory chip, if the cost of packing is included, and as low as US$1.60, excluding packing. As a result, these DRAM manufacturers believe that their September sales will take the slight slump in DRAM prices in their stride, and achieve record highs again.
The new Win Me operating system is scheduled to debut in the market in mid-September, boosting computer industry sales in the fourth quarter. One particular Win Me application, a home-like interactive display, is expected to become popular after it hits the shops. The application needs a lot of memory, and should also help to push up DRAM demand significantly.
Related story: Taiwan DRAM Sales Likely to Hit NT$250 Billion in 2001
(Commercial Times, Taiwan) |
