GlobalWafers profit quadruples on wafer shortage

DigiTimes reports silicon wafer supplier GlobalWafers saw its profits nearly quadruple in the first half of 2018. Times are golden for the company as the global wafer market is in short supply. Demand from automotive electronics, industrial and IoT applications has boosted demand, which resulted in much higher prices than in previous years. The impact on the retail pricing of electronics isn't major, due to the relatively small cost of a blank silicon wafer.

Silicon wafer company GlobalWafers has reported net profits surged 282.5% from a year earlier to NT$6.28 billion (US$205.5 million) in the first half of 2018. EPS for the six-month period came to NT$14.36, which exceeded the NT$12.68 reported for all of 2017.

GlobalWafers saw its net profits climb to a record high of nearly NT$3.5 billion in the second quarter of 2018, when the company's revenues amounted to NT$14.37 billion hitting an all-time high for the 10th consecutive quarter. EPS for the quarter reached NT$8.