TAIPEI, TAIWAN: Chairman Morris Chang of TSMC, the world's top contract chip maker, told local media he hoped sales next year would return to 2008 levels, a company official said on Saturday.

Chang made the comment following an annual company gathering, said the official, who was present when the comment was made. Chang did not provide a specific forecast.

Most analysts are optimistic on TSMC's business for 2010, as the foundry giant ramps up production of new chips using more efficient technology to win orders from foreign chip makers that are seeking to cut costs by stepping up outsourcing.

TSMC is expected to post sales of T$343.4 billion ($10.7 billion) next year, according to Thomson One.

Its sales was T$321.8 billion in 2008, Taiwan stock exchange data showed.

TSMC had said this year's third-quarter sales rose by a fifth from the previous quarter, matching its own forecast, due to growing chip demand.