Chinese Chipmaker SMIC Warns of Impact From U.S. Export Controls
Chinese chip foundry Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) reported a 34.7 percent rise in third-quarter revenue on Thursday, missing estimates, and warned investors about the impact of export controls from the United States.
The company generated revenue of $1.91 billion in the quarter, up from $1.42 billion in the same period a year earlier but below analyst expectations of $1.94 billion.
Net profit rose 54.1 percent to $574.4 million, while gross profit increased 58.6 percent to $742.2 million.
Shares in the company opened up 3.7 percent, but then fell and stabilised at about 0.5 percent above the previous close.
SMIC executives said that weak demand in the consumer market, coupled with new export controls from the United States, would weigh on its fourth-quarter results.
“According to a preliminary interpretation, the new rules have an adverse impact on our production and operation,” co-CEO Zhao Haijun told investors on an earnings call, adding it was too soon to forecast the precise effect.
Despite this, the company lifted its capital expansion plan for the year to $6.6 billion from $5 billion.
Backed by funding from Beijing, SMIC is China’s best hope for becoming a global leader in chip manufacturing that can rival Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC), the industry’s largest foundry.
The company remains generations behind in leading-edge technology and has been in Washington’s crosshairs in recent years amid an ongoing spat with Beijing over chip technology.
In early October, the U.S. department of commerce released a sweeping set of export controls aimed at containing China’s chip manufacturers.
The restrictions are further set to hamper SMIC’s ambitions for making advanced chips, experts say.
Earlier on Thursday, Chinese chip fab Hua Hong Semiconductor Ltd reported a 39.5 percent year-on-year rise in revenue to a record high of $629.9 million, while net profit rose 83.7 percent.
SHANGHAI (Reuters)
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