Chartered Semiconductor said that capital expenditure for 2008 would be approximately $630 million, compared to $758 million in 2007. The majority of spending will be focused on accelerating the ramp of its 300mm facility, Fab 7, especially for 65nm bulk and SOI volume production. 

The Singapore foundry said that it expects to reach 30,000 wafer starts per month capacity capability by the end of 2008, indicating the potential for a quarterly increase of approximately 10 percent in the year.

Capacity for 90nm and below technologies is expected to represent approximately 23 percent of total capacity by December 2008, the company said.