联电新加坡厂量产首批硅光子晶圆UMC Starts Mass Production of Silicon Photonics Wafers in Singapore
台湾第二大晶圆代工企业联华电子（UMC）宣布，其位于新加坡的工厂已开始量产首批硅光子晶圆，以满足人工智能和超大规模数据中心网络对高速光学互连日益增长的需求。该项目是联电与新加坡本地无晶圆厂芯片设计公司SILITH Technology合作开发的成果，双方在18个月内将该硅光子平台从开发阶段推进至生产就绪状态。此外，联电计划在2027年前推出其自有的12英寸硅光子平台，供客户进行产品开发。在此背景下，花旗集团分析师看好联电2026年下半年的业绩前景，预测其2026年第二季度销售额将环比增长13%，且毛利率将有所回升。联电近期公布的财务数据也支撑了这一乐观预期，其6月份销售额同比增长22.85%至231.2亿新台币（约合7.1921亿美元），今年上半年累计销售额则增长了11.28%。
United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), Taiwan's second-largest contract chipmaker, announced on Tuesday the commencement of mass production for its first silicon photonics wafers at its Singapore facility. The initiative aims to address the growing demand for high-speed optical interconnects within artificial intelligence and hyperscaler data center networks. Developed in collaboration with Singapore-based fabless chip design firm SILITH Technology, the joint team successfully transitioned the silicon photonics platform from development to production readiness in 18 months. Looking ahead, UMC plans to offer its own 12-inch silicon photonics platform for customer product development by 2027. This technological milestone coincides with an improving outlook from Citi analysts, who forecast a 13% quarter-on-quarter sales increase for UMC in the second quarter of 2026 alongside a recovery in gross margins. This optimism is supported by UMC's recent financial results, which show June sales rising 22.85% year-on-year to NT$23.12 billion ($719.21 million) and cumulative first-half sales growing by 11.28%.
01新加坡厂启动硅光子晶圆量产Silicon Photonics Mass Production Begins in Singapore
联华电子在其新加坡制造基地正式启动了首批硅光子晶圆的商业化量产。作为台湾第二大晶圆代工企业，联电此举旨在应对全球人工智能和超大规模数据中心网络对高速光学互连技术不断增长的需求。随着人工智能基础设施的快速扩张，传统电信号传输在带宽和功耗上面临瓶颈，而硅光子技术通过光信号进行数据传输，能够显著提升数据中心的连接速度并降低能耗。
United Microelectronics Corporation has officially commenced the mass production of its first silicon photonics wafers at its manufacturing facility in Singapore. As Taiwan's second-largest contract chipmaker, UMC is targeting the rapidly growing demand for high-speed optical interconnects within artificial intelligence applications and hyperscaler data center networks. The transition to optical technology is increasingly viewed as essential for overcoming the physical limitations of traditional electrical wiring in high-performance computing environments.
联电高层管理人员向《日经亚洲》透露，该公司正在积极寻求新型连接技术，以满足当前蓬勃发展的人工智能市场需求。此次在新加坡工厂实现量产的硅光子芯片，将光学技术与先进的芯片封装技术相结合，被业界视为推动下一代半导体产业增长的重要驱动力。该项目的顺利量产，使联电具备了提供支持全球人工智能基础设施扩展所需关键硬件的能力。
A senior executive at UMC told Nikkei Asia that the company is actively pursuing these new connectivity technologies to address the intensive data demands of artificial intelligence. By combining optical technology with advanced semiconductor packaging, the silicon photonics chips produced at the Singapore site are positioned as a key growth driver for next-generation technology. This manufacturing milestone establishes UMC's capability to deliver the critical hardware required to support expanding global AI infrastructure.
全球AI芯片与半导体产业近期动荡与投资脉络Recent Volatility and Investment in Global AI Chips and Semiconductors
展示近期全球AI芯片市场的巨额投资与股市剧烈波动的演变过程，帮助理解联电在新加坡量产硅光子晶圆的产业背景
Illustrates the recent massive investments and severe stock market volatility in the global AI chip sector, providing context for UMC's silicon photonics production in Singapore
韩国总统李在明宣布了一项总额达6500亿美元的大型项目投资计划，旨在主导全球人工智能和芯片市场，三星和SK海力士等巨头预计参与。
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung announced a massive $650 billion investment drive to dominate global AI and chip markets, with tech giants like Samsung and SK Hynix expected to participate.
由于投资者对人工智能成本上升的担忧加剧，韩国Kospi指数暴跌超8%并触发熔断，日本日经225指数下跌约5%，波及半导体板块。
South Korea's Kospi plunged over 8% to trigger a trading halt and Japan's Nikkei 225 dropped about 5% as investor concerns over rising AI costs deepened, impacting the semiconductor sector.
由于投资者对人工智能前景的担忧引发半导体板块重挫，韩国综合股价指数大跌近5%，导致该国股市逼近熊市边缘并领跌亚洲市场。
South Korea's benchmark KOSPI index plunged nearly 5% to lead declines across Asia, pushing the market near a bear market as chipmakers slumped on AI worries.
韩国半导体巨头SK海力士在纳斯达克成功募资265亿美元，创下外国公司在美IPO纪录，旨在筹集资金以扩大其人工智能存储芯片的产能。
South Korean semiconductor giant SK Hynix raised $26.5 billion in a record-breaking US IPO on the Nasdaq to fund the expansion of its AI memory chip production capacity.
02与SILITH合作及未来12英寸平台规划Partnership with SILITH and Future 12-Inch Platform Roadmap
联华电子与新加坡本地无晶圆厂芯片设计公司SILITH Technology紧密合作，共同推进了该项目的落地。双方组成的联合团队在短短18个月内，成功将该硅光子平台从最初的开发阶段推进至生产就绪状态。联电在一份声明中表示，这一合作成果为支持下一代人工智能基础设施提供了关键的技术保障。
The successful implementation of the silicon photonics project relies heavily on UMC's close collaboration with SILITH Technology, a Singapore-based fabless chip design company. According to a statement from UMC, the joint team successfully transitioned the silicon photonics platform from the initial development phase to full production readiness within a span of 18 months, securing the necessary technology to support next-generation artificial intelligence infrastructure.
除了目前的量产项目外，联电还制定了明确的技术路线图。该公司计划在2027年前推出其自有的12英寸硅光子平台。这一全新的12英寸平台将向客户开放，用于其产品的开发与设计，从而拓宽联电在高速光学互连市场的产品线与技术布局。
Beyond the current production milestone, UMC has outlined a clear roadmap for its technology offerings. The contract chipmaker plans to make its own 12-inch silicon photonics platform available for customer product development by 2027. This upcoming platform is expected to allow customers to design and develop their own advanced products, expanding UMC's capabilities in the high-speed optical interconnect market.
03花旗看好下半年业绩与财务表现Citi's Optimistic Outlook and Strong Financial Performance
在技术取得突破的同时，花旗集团分析师对联华电子下半年的业绩前景持乐观态度。花旗分析师预测，联电在2026年第二季度的销售额将实现13%的环比增长，同时其毛利率也有望迎来回升。这一预测反映出市场对联电在调整产品结构以及应对高带宽需求方面能力的信心。
Alongside these technological advancements, analysts at Citi have expressed an optimistic outlook for the contract chipmaker's performance in the second half of the year. The financial institution forecasts that UMC will achieve a 13% quarter-on-quarter sales jump in the second quarter of 2026, accompanied by a recovery in its gross margins, reflecting positive market expectations for the company's financial trajectory.
联电近期公布的强劲财务数据也为华尔街的乐观预期提供了有力支撑。数据显示，该公司今年6月份的销售额达到231.2亿新台币（约合7.1921亿美元），较去年同期大幅增长22.85%。此外，联电在今年上半年的累计销售额也实现了11.28%的同比增长，显示出稳健的增长势头。
This Wall Street optimism is strongly supported by UMC's recently reported financial performance. The company announced that its sales for June jumped 22.85% year-on-year to reach NT$23.12 billion, which is equivalent to approximately $719.21 million. Furthermore, UMC's cumulative sales for the first half of the year recorded an 11.28% increase compared to the same period last year, demonstrating solid financial growth.
