UMC Sees Jump in 28nm Demand

By Alan Patterson, EETimes, TAIPEI , Jul. 27, 2016 – 

United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC), Taiwan's second largest foundry, said it's seeing stronger demand for 28nm products, driven by customers in the smartphone business.

The company said revenue from communications chips increased to 55% of second-quarter sales, up from 48% in the first quarter this year.

UMC';s most advanced process technology, 0.28nm, represented 17% of its total sales in the second quarter, increasing from 8% in the first quarter. That's in line with the company's forecast three months ago that by the second quarter of 2016, 28nm would account for 15% to 20% of its overall sales revenue.

(Source: UMC)

"As the latest semi inventory cycle came to an end, the second quarter of 2016 reflected a return to semiconductor seasonality as chip demand improved," said UMC CEO Po-Wen Yen on a conference call to announce the company's second-quarter results. "UMC experienced a surge in 28nm business, especially from communication customers."

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