Photronics sees demand growth from UMC

TAIPEI, TAIWAN: Topping 90 per cent overall 8-inch fab utilization rate at United Microelectronics Corporation, Taiwan-based photomask supplier Photronics Semiconductor Mask Corporation (PSMC) has attracted an increase in mask orders for mature processes from UMC.

A Digitimes report said that the PSMC has clocked revenues to the tune of US$7.75 million for July 2009, which is in fact the highest so far during the current year. The report added that PSMC's order visibility has extended to the end of the year expressed optimism about its performance in the latter half.

Meanwhile, UMC is on road to an 8-inch fab utilization rate stay at over 90 per cent through November, company sources said. It has attracted more orders from Holtek Semiconductor, MediaTek, MStar Semiconductor, Novatek Microelectronics, Pixart Imaging and Sonix Technology utilizing its 0.13-micron and below manufacturing processes.

The report pointed out that quarterly gross margin at PSMC might most probably touch 16 per cent during the second-half of the current year. It may be recalled that this figures compare with the average of 13 per cent posted during the previous quarters.

Now, in a scenario where UMC's utilization having made a significant comeback, the photomask supplier company has acquired US$20 million worth of new equipment from parent company Photronics to meet the increased demand.