Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMI) says its sales increased 5.4% in the first quarter of 2006 to US$351.1 million from US$333.1 million in the previous quarter.

The company this week announced its consolidated results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2006.

The company reported an increase in capacity to 157,330 8-inch equivalent wafers per month and a utilization rate of 95% in the first quarter of 2006.

Operating loss decreased to US$6.0 million in the first quarter of 2006 compared to an operating loss of US$8.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Net loss decreased to US$8.7 million in the first quarter of 2006 compared to a net loss of US$15.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2005.