TSMC chairman and CEO Morris Chang warned that a slowdown is coming to the chip market and has cut his forecast for the total semiconductor market's annual growth. Speaking during TSMC's second quarter earnings conference on Thursday, Chang disclosed a cut in the growth forecast for the global semiconductor market in 2012 to between 1 and 2 percent, the Taipei Times reported today.

Chang said the slowdown is set to start in the fourth quarter and last into the first quarter of 2013, and put it down to a renewed inventory correction and deterioration in the global economy.

TCMS is seeing a dip in its revenue in the fourth quarter from the third quarter, although Chang sees a strong rebound in the second quarter of 2013 after the inventory adjustment.

TSMC posted strong revenue results and soaring profits for its 2Q12. The company expects to expand sales revenue by about 7 percent sequentially in 3Q12. TSMC's 28-nanometer process technology accounted for 7% of total wafer revenues, meeting the company's internal plan. 40-nanometer accounted for 28% of total wafer revenues, and 65-nanometer was 26%. These advanced technologies accounted for 61% of TSMC's total wafer revenues.

"Due to continuing strong demand for our 28-nanometer technology, we expect to double the shipments of 28-nanometer in the third quarter. This increase in 28nm business will account for more than 80% of revenue growth in the third quarter," said Lora Ho, SVP and Chief Financial Officer of TSMC.

Chang also confirmed that TSMC is negotiating with lithography equipment maker ASML Holding NV about investing in the company.