Worldwide semiconductor capacity and output both slowed significantly in 4Q07, but for the first time in a year and a half factory utilization rates crept up above the benchmark 90% level. Total IC capacity rose 1.2% vs. 3Q and 12.4% vs. 4Q06 to 2117.9K wafer starts/ week (WSPW). Actual wafer starts rose 1.8% Q-Q and 17.6% Y-Y to 1914.5K WSPW, for a utilization of 90.4%, up half a percent from 3Q07. Growth patterns were similar for total semiconductors, with output (1.7%, to 2087.4K WSPW) slightly outpacing capacity (1.3%, to 2321.7K WSPW), with utilization inching up to 89.9%.
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