Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the world’s largest maker of custom chips, expects revenue this year to fall because of a decline in the global economy.
Morris Chang (張忠謀), chairman and chief executive officer, made the comment yesterday at the company’s annual technology forum in Hsinchu, without giving a specific figure. The chipmaker had sales last year of NT$321.8 billion (US$9.8 billion), 2.6 percent more than a year earlier.
TSMC, which manufactures chips for Intel Corp and Nvidia Corp, expects lower revenue as recessions take hold in the US, Europe and Japan, driving down spending on electronics.
The company is a benchmark for the technology industry because it makes chips for everything from mobile phones to flat-screen televisions.
The chipmaker plans to spend more on research and development this year, Chang said.
The 78-year-old executive expanded his role last week to include the CEO position, replacing Rick Tsai (蔡力行), 58, who became president of the company’s New Business Development Organization.
The company plans to boost its capital expenditure this year to “about the same as last year,” Chang said. TSMC said on April 30 that spending on factories and equipment is likely to fall to US$1.5 billion this year from US$1.9 billion last year.
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