TSMC may spend $8 bn on investment this year

TAIPEI, TAIWAN:  Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, the world's largest contract chip maker, could boost investment by 35.6 per cent in 2011 as it seeks to boost efficiency with new technology, a media report said on Wednesday.

The report in the Economic Daily, attributed to an unamed industry source, said TSMC plans to spend $8 billion on investment this year, to capture a bigger share of the 28-nanometer chip market.

TSMC declined to comment on the report and said more details on capital expenditure would be announced next week. It will hold an investor conference on Jan. 27.

Company chairman Morris Chang said last month spending on research and development in 2011 would rise to over T$50 billion ($1.7 billion) versus T$36 billion last year.

The company reported record sales in 2010. Its clients include Texas Instruments , Qualcomm and Nvidia.