After its creation by merger in 1987, SGS-Thomson was ranked 14th among the top 20 semiconductor suppliers with sales of around US$850 million.

"Many semiconductor suppliers had weak earnings and their bookings were depressed, and now you see why," he added.

Motorola Inc. was the largest American semiconductor supplier in 1987, in fourth place worldwide, the survey showed.

Chartered provides comprehensive wafer fabrication services and technologies to semiconductor suppliers and systems companies.

Although the demand for DRAM microchips has risen quickly, it is not being fully met by domestic semiconductor suppliers.

The 1986 agreement called for foreign semiconductor suppliers to obtain 20 percent of Japan's market in five years.

In recent times, Anglia has signed numerous distribution agreements with major semiconductor suppliers significantly enhancing its product profile.

My company, a semiconductor supplier, has opened a design center in India.

And it recommends that the department provide a discretionary fund for its semiconductor suppliers of $50 million a year.

According to Slater, the semiconductor suppliers just aren't confident that a market exists for Alpha.