Semiconductors November 11, 2026 3 min read TSE: 3436

SUMCO Swings to ¥4.4 Billion Nine-Month Operating Loss Despite 9% Sales Rise on AI Wafer Demand; Deconsolidates Taiwan Unit

Silicon-wafer maker SUMCO posted an operating loss of ¥4,397 million in the nine months to September, against a profit of ¥5,869 million a year earlier, even though net sales rose 9.2% to ¥332,524 million on heavy 300mm wafer shipments for AI and data centers. The net loss attributable to owners widened to ¥7,422 million, despite a ¥13,671 million gain on the partial sale of its Taiwanese subsidiary.

AI demand lifts volumes but not profit

SUMCO Corporation (TSE: 3436) reported consolidated results for the first nine months of FY12/2026, January 1 to September 30, 2026, on November 11, 2026. Demand for 300mm wafers for advanced logic and memory used in AI and data centers stayed strong and shipments rose sharply, while demand for 200mm and smaller wafers for AI-related power devices also grew. SUMCO said it kept a high share of leading-edge products and used AI to improve productivity, and is restructuring production of 200mm and smaller wafers to improve efficiency and earnings. It did not detail in the filing why operating profit swung to a loss.

Subsidiary SUMCO TECHXIV sold part of its shares in Formosa SUMCO Technology (FST), and FST was removed from consolidation on September 30, 2026 and is now accounted for by the equity method; the nine-month income statement still includes FST, but its assets and liabilities left the balance sheet, cutting total assets 18.1% to ¥924,311 million and lifting the equity ratio to 61.2% from 51.3%. SUMCO booked a ¥13,671 million gain on the share sale and a ¥3,778 million extraordinary loss after deciding to end wafer production at SUMCO TECHXIV's Miyazaki plant at the end of December 2026. The ordinary loss was ¥9,886 million.

Full-year loss expected

SUMCO, which normally guides only for the next quarter, now expects FY12/2026 net sales of ¥439,500 million (+7.3%), an operating loss of ¥3,300 million, an ordinary loss of ¥5,300 million and a net loss attributable to owners of ¥3,400 million; from the fourth quarter its consolidated sales and operating profit exclude FST. It plans a year-end dividend of ¥10, for ¥20 for the year, unchanged from FY12/2025.

SUMCO Corporation — first nine months of FY12/2026 (January 1 – September 30, 2026), Japanese GAAP, consolidated. Balance-sheet rows compare September 30, 2026 with December 31, 2025; guidance and dividend rows are full-year FY12/2026 against FY12/2025. "—" indicates a figure not disclosed.
Metric	9M FY12/2026	9M FY12/2025	Change
Net sales (¥ million)	332,524	304,436	+9.2%
Operating profit (¥ million)	-4,397	5,869	profit to loss
Ordinary profit (¥ million)	-9,886	2,175	profit to loss
Net profit attrib. to owners of parent (¥ million)	-7,422	-995	loss widened
Comprehensive income (¥ million)	-6,997	-1,707	loss widened
EPS (¥)	-21.22	-2.85	loss widened
Gain on sale of shares of affiliates (¥ million)	13,671	—	—
Loss on ending wafer production at Miyazaki plant (¥ million)	3,778	—	—
Total assets (¥ million)	924,311	1,127,966	-18.1%
Net assets (¥ million)	565,506	647,785	-12.7%
Equity ratio	61.2%	51.3%	+9.9 pt
FY12/2026 guidance — revenue (¥ million)	439,500	—	+7.3%
FY12/2026 guidance — operating profit (¥ million)	-3,300	—	n.m.
FY12/2026 guidance — ordinary profit (¥ million)	-5,300	—	n.m.
FY12/2026 guidance — net profit (¥ million)	-3,400	—	n.m.
Annual dividend per share (¥)	20.00	20.00	unchanged

JapanStockPulse provides informational content only and does not constitute investment advice. Figures are taken from the company's published earnings short report and may be subject to subsequent revision.