UPDATE 1-UMC June sales fall 7.3 pct, first drop since Jan

(Adds details and analyst comments)

TAIPEI, July 8 (Reuters) - Taiwan's UMC (2303.TW), the world's No.2 contract chip maker, said its June sales fell 7.3 percent annually, marking the first fall since January despite hopes the sector is recovering from a weak first quarter.

United Microelectronics Corp's (UMC) (UMC.N) had sales of T$8.105 billion ($267 million) last month, compared with T$8.745 billion a year ago, the company said on its website.

UMC's May sales were T$8.607 billion in May.

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.

Some analysts worry that high oil prices and a faltering U.S. economy will eventually affect global demand for technology products.

"The fall in UMC's June sales is expected because the whole sector's outlook is poor and orders will probably go to the biggest players," said a semiconductor analyst from a U.S. investment bank, who declined to be identified.

For the second quarter, UMC garnered sales of T$25.23 billion, up 0.5 percent from a year earlier and 5.1 percent higher than the first quarter, according to company data.

To see a graphic of UMC's sales, click on: here