Taiwan-based DRAM chipmakers Nanya Technology and Inotera Memories are set to remain unprofitable in the fourth quarter of 2012, which will mark the twelfth straight quarterly losses for both companies, according to industry sources.

Nevertheless, both Nanya and Inotera are likely to report smaller losses for the fourth quarter compared to the prior quarter, the sources indicated.

Looking into 2013, however, Nanya and Inotera will see their businesses rebound gradually after hitting bottom, the sources believe. With spot market prices rallying recently, the DRAM market is beginning to show signs of recovery, the sources noted.

Nanya has disclosed that revenues for October and November totaled NT$4.91 billion (US$169 million), with combined net losses reaching NT$5.66 billion. Meanwhile, Inotera posted revenues of NT$5.93 billion for October and November with net losses amounting to NT$2.65 billion.

In other news, Micron Technology has posted a larger net loss and lower revenues for its fiscal first-quarter 2013. The company reported net losses of US$257 million, compared to losses of US$243 million in the previous quarter and losses of US$187 million a year ago, with sales falling 6.6% sequentially and 12.2% on year to US$1.83 billion. The results marked the sixth straight quarterly loss for the US memory chipmaker.