TSMC to quit unprofitable business

TAIPEI: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC), the world´s No.1 contract chip manufacturer, on Tuesday said it would stop making solar modules at the end of this month because the sector was not profitable.
"Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd continues to believe that solar module manufacturing remains a robust and growing industry, but despite six years of hard work we have not found a way to make a sustainable profit," Dr. Steve Tso, chairman of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd Solar and senior vice president of TSMC, said in an emailed statement.
The closure of TSMC Solar, TSMC´s wholly-owned subsidiary, follows the sale of its LED lighting unit, another sector which has struggled to reach profitability for the chip giant.