Globalwafers Xu Xiulan: At present, the utilization rate of 8-inch/12-inch silicon wafer capacity continues to be fully loaded, but the company still faces four major challenges

On January 6, Globalwafers disclosed its operating performance in December 2022. Its revenue was 6.05 billion yuan (NT$, the same below), with a monthly increase of 0.04% and an annual increase of 14.15%. 18.39 billion yuan, slightly higher than the 18.05 billion yuan in the previous quarter, an annual increase of 16.7%, and revenue growth for 12 consecutive quarters. 15%.

Globalwafers said that due to the impact of the overall economy and inflation recently, the demand for consumer electronics has slowed down slightly. However, the application of semiconductor products has been deeply rooted in daily life, and almost all technologies are based on silicon wafers. Future development will be driven by multiple factors. , Wireless communications, automotive semiconductors, cloud, industrial/Internet of Things and many other demands provide long-term kinetic energy for the semiconductor industry.

Looking forward to 2023, Xu Xiulan, chairman of Globalwafers, once said that the company's current capacity utilization rate of 8-inch and 12-inch silicon wafers continues to be fully loaded, but the overall environment faces four major challenges: weak demand, unpredictable exchange rates, inflation, and high electricity costs. Challenge pressure, however, there is also a gradual decline in supply chain inventory and a sharp drop in freight rates. Globalwafers will strive to maintain positive growth.

According to eeNews, Universal Chip broke ground on a massive facility in Texas to produce 300mm wafers, a key part of the silicon supply chain. Xu Xiulan said that after the failure of the acquisition of the German silicon wafer factory Shichuang, she decided to launch a 100 billion yuan expansion plan, simultaneously expanding production in existing factories in 6 countries, and building a 12-inch factory in Texas, the United States ; Globalwafers will have 12-inch factories in the Americas, Europe and Asia in the future, and has a complete production line from crystal growth to epitaxy.