In-line with market analysts current projections of a recovering semiconductor industry, SOI wafer producer, Soitec has guided sales for its FY1Q09 to up more than 20% compared with the previous quarter. Soitec posted sales of €35.9 million in its FY4Q08 and a full year loss of €28.4 million.
The specialist wafer producer said in a statement that its second quarter sales enquiries pointed to even higher sales levels, but bookings over the coming months would determine the outcome. Soitec said it would not yet be providing a revenue forecast for the current financial year.
With a 20% or more rise in revenue for Q1, Soitec would still have sales decline for the third successive 1Q period. Sales have declined quarter-on-quarter for two successive years.
As a major wafer supplier to GlobalFoundries, indications are that the IC inventory replenishment in the channel would seem to be underway, with the foundry increasing wafer starts for its only customer, AMD.