Chipmakers see rebound, hope it's end-user demand
Posted on Wed, Mar. 13, 2002
bayarea.com
TAIPEI, March 13 (Reuters) - Recent weeks have seen signs of rising demand for semiconductors, but whether those orders are only the false dawn of inventory replenishment or real demand from corporations and consumers remains a mystery.
``I think the overall IT industry, and the overall macroeconomy, is being driven by inventory adjustment,'' said Chu Woosik, vice president for investor relations at South Korean giant Samsung Electronics.
But he added, ``Looking at PC shipment data for fourth quarter, although it was sluggish, the decline was still better than expected. We are seeing somewhat of a pickup in the economy and in IT (information technology) spending.''
The semiconductor industry is trying to claw back from 2001, the worst year in its history.
Several major chipmakers on Wednesday echoed Chu's remarks that the demand picture is improving, with Taiwan semiconductor Manufacturing Co, the world's biggest contract chipmaker, saying demand was coming from all customer sectors.
TSMC and its leading rival, United Microelectronics Corp, both said they may speed or boost plans for capital spending this year thanks to demand momentum. |
