The world’s largest chip manufacturer TSMC generated more sales and profit than expected in the final quarter thanks to the enormous demand for semiconductor components. TSMC generated a record surplus of more than 166 billion Taiwanese dollars (around 5.3 billion euros) from October to December, as the group announced on Thursday in Hsinchu. This was 16.4 percent more than a year earlier. Analysts had expected a little less on average. Sales grew by a good fifth to 438 billion Taiwanese dollars, which was also a record.
For the first quarter, which has just begun, the Group anticipates continued high demand, which will also be supported by the ongoing recovery in the automotive segment, among other things. With its sales forecast for the start of the year, the Group also exceeded market expectations: TSMC forecast sales of 16.6 to 17.2 billion US dollars for the first three months, the equivalent of about 459 to 475 billion Taiwanese dollars. The Group is targeting an operating margin of 42 to 44 percent, compared with 41.7 percent in the past quarter.
Investments in new capacities
TSMC is the world’s largest contract manufacturer of chips and wafers, the base plates for electronic semiconductors. It is also Asia’s largest company. Customers include the iPhone manufacturer Apple. In order to meet the enormous demand for semiconductor devices, TSMC wants to invest a lot of money in new capacities, the group estimated its investment budget for this year at 40 to 44 billion US dollars. Competitors from Samsung and Globalfoundries are also currently investing billions in new machines for chip manufacturing. (dpa/mer)
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From the data center:
Sales of semiconductors in the passenger car sector 2012 to 2020
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