Japan crisis not expected to have major impact on wafer market

DigiTimes reports foundries don't expect the Japanese earthquake disaster will cause significant disruption for the silicon wafer market because alternatives are available if necessary.

With the impact of Japan's massive earthquake disrupting production at silicon wafer supplier Shin-Etsu Handotai (SEH), major pure-play foundry chipmakers Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) have both said that they are capable of activating alternatives if necessary.

SEH's parent company Shin-Etsu Chemical has revealed that operations at several production sites, including SEH's Shirakawa plant in Nishigo Village, Fukushima Preference, remain closed due to the quake's impact which has shutdown electric power supply in the area. A restart of operations can only begin after a safety inspection of equipment and the facilities, Shin-Etsu said, without disclosing any timeframe.