A Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer has made a positive forecast for the sector in the remainder of 2010.
United Microelectronics (UMC) said it is "very optimistic" about demand from consumer electronics firms, for chips to be incorporated into their devices, during the second half of the year.
The company last month predicted shipments of chip wafers to enjoy single-digit growth during the second quarter of 2010, after record figures between January and March of 1.03 million units.
Furthermore, UMC - which also has offices in Japan, Singapore, Europe and the US - forecast that consumer electronics purchases would be the key driver for boosting the industry.
Its chief executive Shih-Wei Sun, speaking at an event to mark the firm's 30th anniversary, added that because most of its customers buy components in dollars, the company would not feel any significant impact from the debt crisis in the eurozone.
UMC is the world's second biggest contract semiconductor manufacturer and employs 12,000 across the world.