Macronix International has reported a loss of NT$1.18 billion (US$40.22 million) or NT$0.34 per share for the third quarter of 2012, as revenues increased 25% on quarter and 11% on year to NT$7.26 billion.

For the first three quarters of 2012, EPS was negative NT$1.04, according to the company.

Macronix was operating at 80% of its capacity in the third quarter, down from 84% in the previous quarter. But the capacity utilization rate of its 12-inch fab, which can produce 18,000 wafers a month, was lowered to 50% in the third quarter due to a high level of inventory.

Sales of ROM products accounted for 39% of total sales in the third quarter, and the value represented an increase of 44% on year and of 82% on quarter. Flash products made up 52% of total sales in the quarter, with the value showing a decline of 8% from a year earlier but up 6% sequentially.

Despite continual losses, Macronix will accelerate its migration to 75nm process, and also plans to roll out NOR flash based on a 55nm node in the first quarter of 2013, according to company chairman Miin Wu.

Macornix is currently sampling 75nm-based 512Mb and 1Gb NAND flash for clients, but aims to develop 4Gb chips in two years, Wu revealed.

Macronix has also begun developing 3D NAND flash technology with volume production likely to begin in 2014-2015, Wu stated.

The company's capex will be lower than NT$3.7 billion in 2012 and decline further in 2013, Wu said.

By: DocMemory
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