ASM Pacific Technology, the world's largest supplier of semiconductor assembly equipment by revenue, said sales would rebound this quarter after slowing in the first three months of this year as expected.
'Our sales in 2007 will be more than last year if the rebound comes in April,' chief executive Lee Wai-kwong said. 'But if the rebound will come in October, sales this year will definitely drop from a year ago.'
Hong Kong-listed ASM Pacific's second-half earnings fell 0.5 per cent to HK$524 million from a year earlier while sales rose 9.8 per cent to HK$2.28 billion, little changed from the first half.
Full-year net profit grew 35 per cent to HK$1.15 billion last year after sales rose 28.8 per cent to HK$4.56 billion, as semiconductor makers responded to increased first-half demand for chips used in electronics such as flat-panel displays, MP3 players and digital cameras.
Net profit may gain only 0.9 per cent to about HK$1.16 billion this year amid flat growth in sales, Bank of China International has forecast.
Demand weakened in the second half amid falling global sales of electronic goods. Mr Lee expected the semiconductor industry to grow 9 per cent to 11 per cent this year.
The company planned to maintain its relationship with parent ASM International despite a suggestion by an investor of the Netherlands-based firm that the ties should be severed.
