Global semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales set to reach record $63 billion

The global sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment is forecast to reach a record $62.7 billion, according to a report by the industry association SEMI.

The organization says the figure tops the previous record, and that Korea is at the top with China closing the gap.

Releasing its mid-year forecast at the annual Semicon West exposition, SEMI says worldwide sales of new semiconductor manufacturing equipment are projected to increase 10.8 percent to $62.7 billion in 2018, exceeding the historic high of $56.6 billion set last year. 

Another record-breaking year for the equipment market is expected in 2019, with 7.7 percent forecast growth to $67.6 billion.

The SEMI Mid-Year Forecast predicts wafer processing equipment will rise 11.7 percent in 2018 to $50.8 billion.

The other front-end segment, consisting of fab facilities equipment, wafer manufacturing, and mask/reticle equipment, is expected to jump 12.3 percent to $2.8 billion this year.

The assembly and packaging equipment segment is projected to grow 8 percent to $4.2 billion in 2018, while semiconductor test equipment is forecast to increase 3.5 percent to $4.9 billion this year.

In 2018, South Korea will remain the largest equipment market for the second year in a row.

China will rise in the rankings to claim the second spot for the first time, dislodging Taiwan, which will fall to the third position.

All regions tracked except Taiwan will experience growth. China will lead in growth with 43.5 percent, followed by Rest of World (primarily Southeast Asia) at 19.3 percent, Japan at 32.1 percent, Europe at 11.6 percent, North America at 3.8 percent and South Korea at 0.1 percent.

SEMI forecasts that, in 2019, equipment sales in China will surge 46.6 percent to $17.3 billion. In 2019, China, South Korea, and Taiwan are forecast to remain the top three markets, with China rising to the top.

South Korea is forecast to become the second largest market at $16.3 billion, while Taiwan is expected to reach $12.3 billion in equipment sales.

The following results are in terms of market size in billions of US dollars:

SEMI is the global industry association representing the electronics manufacturing supply chain and provides a range of industry reports, including the Equipment Market Data report, which provides “comprehensive market data for the global semiconductor equipment market”.