Nikon cuts lithography shipment forecast by 10% amid IC downturn
Semiconductor Business News
(11/20/01 22:40 p.m. EST)
TOKYO -- Hit hard by the downturn in the IC industry, Japan's Nikon Corp. here has cut its forecast for lithography-tool shipments by 10% for its current fiscal year, according to a report from Reuters.
Nikon also plans to cut 3,100 of its seasonal workers by 50% in its fiscal year, which ends March of 2002. The Tokyo-based company said it expected an 11 billion yen ($89.53 million) consolidated net loss this business year, due in part to a downturn in the chip-equipment sector, according to the Reuters news reports.
It also shaved its tool shipments for the year, which runs from March of 2001 to March of 2002. Nikon planned to ship about 250 tools in its fiscal year, according to the reports. But now, it only expects to ship 226 units, a 10% decline over last year, they added.
Nikon--the world's largest supplier of lithography tools--will also miss its original forecast by a wide margin. Earlier this year, the company said it would ship about 400 lithography tools in its fiscal year. In the 2001 calendar year, the company expected to ship between 380 to 420 tools, it was noted.
Nikon is not the only scanner maker that is facing tough times in the industry. Other lithography-tool vendors, including ASM Lithography, Canon Inc., and Ultratech Stepper, have also reportedly lowered their sales and shipment forecasts for their respective calendar years, according to analysts.
Analysts also believe that Nikon is losing some ground to ASML and Canon in the marketplace. Canon is taking away some market share from Nikon in Japan, while ASML of the Netherlands is posing a major threat for Nikon in the United States, according to analysts.
Earlier this year, ASML beat Nikon for a 300-mm tool order at IBM Microelectronics, said industry sources. And now, Nikon's largest account--Intel Corp.--is also up for grabs, according to those sources.
Right now, Intel is reportedly evaluating 193-nm scanners from ASML, Canon, and Nikon for a new and large order, sources said. Nikon is the leading contender for Intel's 193-nm scanner business, while ASML is reportedly looking to garner a sizable order from the Santa Clara, Calif.-based chip giant, according to sources. |
