Taiwan's UMC June sales up 1.6 pct y/y

TAIPEI, July 9 (Reuters) - Taiwan's UMC (2303.TW), the world's second-biggest contract chip maker, said on Thursday its June sales rose 1.6 percent from a year ago, its first annual rise in one year amid rebounding chip demand.

Sales at United Microelectronics Corp (UMC) (UMC.N) reached T$8.236 billion ($250 million) last month, up from T$8.105 billion a year ago and May's T$7.514 billion, the company said on its website.

UMC and sector leader TSMC (2330.TW) (TSM.N) have benefitted from a pick up in demand for personal computers and other consumer gadgets, especially from China as a result of stimulus spending on the mainland.

UMC announced the results after the Taipei stock market closed on Thursday. UMC shares fell 0.43 percent, against the main TAIEX's 1.2 percent rise.

(US$1=T$33) (Reporting by Baker Li, Editing by Jonathan Hopfner)