SAN FRANCISCO— A magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck Taiwan over the weekend resulted in the loss of more than half a day's wafer production at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd., the company said Monday (Dec. 21).
TSMC (Hsinchu, Taiwan) said in a regulatory filing that the earthquake caused approximately 0.59 days of wafer movement loss. Production lines have resumed normal operation and the company expects financial and business impact to be limited, TSMC said.
TSMC's largest rival, Hsinchu-based United Microelectronics Corp., said in a filing of its own that the earthquake had no significant impact on its financial and business operations. DRAM vendor Inotera Memories Inc. and computer manufacturer Asustek Computer Inc. also reported no significant impact from the earthquake.
The Reuters news services reported that the 6.4 magnitude quake struck the east coast of Taiwan at 9:02 p.m. local time Saturday night. Local television reported one building had collapsed near the capital, according to the report.
In other filings made Monday, TSMC disclosed the acquisitions of more than $75 million worth of semiconductor manufacturing equipment from vendors Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc., Nuflare Technology Inc., Lam Research Corp., and Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
Also Monday, Reuters reported that TSMC will raise base salaries for employees by 15 percent beginning next month, anticipating a strong year