Taiwan's UMC says June sales down 7.3 pct y/y

TAIPEI, July 8 (Reuters) - Taiwan's UMC (2303.TW: Quote, Profile, Research), the world's No.2 contract chip maker, said on Tuesday its June sales fell 7.3 percent from a year ago, marking the first annual decline since January, despite hopes the foundry market was recovering.

United Microelectronics Corp's (UMC) (UMC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) had sales of T$8.105 billion ($267 million) last month, down from T$8.745 billion a year ago, the company said on its Web site.

UMC's May sales were T$8.607 billion.

As demand grows for chips used in computers and other consumer gadgets, UMC has forecast second-quarter wafer shipments will grow 10 percent from the first quarter, though average selling prices could drop 2 percent in the same period.

Sector leader Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) (2330.TW: Quote, Profile, Research) (TSM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) is set to report June sales on Thursday. (US$1=T$30.4) (Reporting Jeanny Kao; Editing by Keiron Henderson)