The operating rate of Korean chip contract manufacturers continues to decline and is expected to continue until at least the second quarter of this year.

January 30 news, according to South Korean media reports, South Korean chip manufacturers' operating rate of production facilities continues to decline, this trend is expected to continue until at least the second quarter of this year.

Demand for chips in Tuyuan Pexels fell due to falling demand for consumer electronics, and so did demand from South Korean chip contract manufacturers such as Samsung, DB Hitek, Key Foundry, Magnachip and SK Hynix System IC.

In early December 2022, foreign media reported that the capacity utilization of a number of wafer foundry in South Korea had dropped sharply, with the exception of Samsung Electronics.

Today, South Korean media said that Samsung, DB Hitek and Key Foundry all had operating rates of between 60 and 70 per cent for 8-inch wafers. But for 12-inch wafers, the operating rate of Samsung's 12-inch fab remains around 80%.

At present, Samsung has five semiconductor factories in South Korea, which are located in Qixing, Huacheng, Pyeongze, Wenyang and Cheonan. In addition, the company operates three chip plants in Suzhou, Tianjin and Xi'an and one in Austin, Texas.

Samsung's competitors have cut back on investment because of falling demand and a glut of chips. But Samsung said in October 2022 that it would not intentionally cut chip production, contrary to the industry-wide trend of cutting production to meet medium-and long-term demand.