It seems that the whole industry experienced a slight decrease of sales in November. Both biggest contract semiconductor manufacturers reported their financial results and, just like computer hardware components makers, had to declare sales downturns resulted by lower orders from their customers. Fortunately, their revenues dropped very insignificantly and both companies are satisfied with such results, given that their year on year growth is still rather substantial.

United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) posted November 2002 net sales revenue of about $172.7 million, a 1.32% decrease from $175 million recorded for October, and up about 24.9% from the same month a year earlier, according to Silicon Strategies. UMC’s year-to-date revenue achieved $1.78 billion, about 3.1% more than the same figure in 2001.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC) announced that its net sales for November 2002 totaled about $419.5 million, 4.3% less than in October this year, but still 31.9% more than in the same month a year ago. Revenues for the year from January to November 2002 were about $4.3 billion and a 31.1% increase over the same period for 2001.

According to TSMC officials, the company’s fabs are expected to be utilised at 60% level in the fourth quarter. Both most well-known contract semiconductor makers anticipate that their ASP will rise this quarter.