Special Report

Microchip trade collapse leaves industry counting cost

Irish exports of microchips fell by 42 per cent in the first five months of this year, but this is in the context of unprecedented growth in the past seven years

Pat Gelsinger, chief executive of Intel: the company has seen substantial falls in its global revenues due to slowing business in its PC and data centre chip divisions. Picture: Reuters

All is not well in the world of microchips. Research of trade data undertaken by the Business Post shows that Irish exports of microchips fell by nearly half (42 per cent) to €2.5 billion in the first five months of this year, compared to €4.4 billion in same period last year.

The news follows concerns last year over the impact in Ireland of cost-cutting measures at Intel, which has seen substantial declines in its global ...