Japan's leading chipmakers said today they are boosting semiconductor production to meet reviving global demand.
Two of them, NEC and Fujitsu, are back to operating at full capacity.
A global slump in demand for technology last year forced many firms to close down some semiconductor lines and reduce output. But orders have been recovering since the start of 2002, enabling companies to crank up production again.
A Fujitsu spokesman said demand for flash memory chips is improving and production at the company's factories was almost back to full capacity.
This time last year, Fujitsu's semiconductor division was only working at 50 per cent of its full potential, he said.
Most of Japan's electronics leaders plunged heavily into the red in the year to March due to the slump in demand but all predicted they would erase losses in the current term thanks to a recovery in orders.
AFP