Taiwan's top-3 IC foundries will see their combined revenues register an about 0.8% sequential drop in the first quarter of 2013, compared to the larger 5.1% on-quarter decrease posted in the fourth quarter of 2012, according to Digitimes Research.

Combined revenues for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), United Microelectronics (UMC) and Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS) are forecast to total US$5.52 billion in the first quarter of 2013, down slightly from US$5.57 billion in the prior quarter, but up 23.8% from US$4.46 billion a year ago, Digitimes Research estimates.

The three foundries collectively generated revenues of US$5.87 biillion in the third quarter of 2012. However, as of the end of September 2012, inventory among the global major IC suppliers climbed to a record US$16.5 billion.

Meanwhile, utilization rates at Taiwan's top-3 foundry chipmakers will average 86.5% in the first quarter of 2013, compared with 86% in fourth-quarter 2012 and 76.7% a year earlier.

Source: Digitimes Research, February 2013