Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Formerly About Applied Materials -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Proud_Infidel who wrote (34584)	3/16/2000 5:17:00 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 70976

Despite big quake, Taiwan becomes third largest IT hardware producer Semiconductor Business News (03/16/00, 02:58:50 PM EDT) TAIPEI, Taiwan--The booming computer-hardware industry in Taiwan barely felt the impact of September's deadly earthquake, according to new assessment from a Taiwan-based information technology think-tank. Taiwan's computer hardware production exceeded most forecasts and grew more than 18% to $39.8 billion in 1999 despite the powerful 7.6 quake that killed 2,321 people last fall, said the Market Intelligence Center of the Institute for Information Industry. The 1999 growth positioned Taiwan as the world's third largest producer of computer-related hardware, behind the U.S. and Japan, said the research organization. The group also estimated that Taiwan produced about 10% of the world's total semiconductors, but assembled 19% of the world's desktop PCs, 49% of the laptop computers and 64% of all PC motherboards. The center said Taiwan made 91% of the world's scanners, and more than half of the industry's modems last year. According to the research organization, Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs now expects most major buyer to increase purchases by at least 20% in 2000. Concerns about component supplies exist in Taiwan. Local shortages of 64-megabit DRAMs caused prices to rise from $14 each to $21 during a brief period last fall before settling back down to $14. Some market observers blamed concerns about supplies after Taiwan's Sept. 21 quake. However, the major problem faced by Taiwan computer hardware makers was higher costs, which could not be passed on to customers and resulted in some losses, according to the information technology research group.