Taiwan's major semiconductor makers suspend expansion projects
Taipei, Nov. 1, 2000 (CENS)--Mainly affected by the plunging stock market in the past month, Taiwan's major semiconductor manufacturers are expected to suspend their expansion projects, industry sources said Wednesday.
Macronix International Co., Powerchip Semiconductor Corp. as well as both ProMos Technologies Inc. and ChipMos Technologies Inc. ( which are subsidiaries of Mosel Vitelic Group) have already decided to suspend their capital raising moves for several expansion projects. The pace in expanding new production capacities will also slow down accordingly.
ProMos decided to postpone its recent capital raising plan to 2001. The year 2001 will be the right time for the semiconductor industry to raise relevant capital, Hong Hu-chiu, chairman of Mosel Vitelic Group, said.
Mosel Vitelic Group began raising capitals for the establishment of new semiconductor plants in 1999. The group expects it will not run out of capitals within the short-term period, Hong said.
However, most local semiconductor manufacturers such as ProMos, Mosel Vitelic, ChipMos, and Powerchip are expected to delay their expansion projects than expected. This will affect the overall investment willingness of local semiconductor manufacturers in the future.
Meanwhile, Nan Ya Technology Corp. expects the establishment of its proposed No. 3 12-inch wafer foundry plant will delay by one to two quarters. The firm estimates the formal production will begin in 2003, making it the first IC manufacturer in Taiwan to delay the establishment of its 12-inch wafer foundry plant.
Powerchip will suspend the installation of its No. 3 wafer foundry plant despite the firm's No. 2 wafer foundry plant will enter the formal production by the end of 2001. The firm will continue the establishment of its No. 3 plant depending on the real recovery of economic development. |
