Global semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales surge 44 percent to record $103 billion

Worldwide sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment in 2021 surged 44 percent to an all-time record of $102.6 billion from $71.2 billion in 2020, SEMI, the industry association representing the global electronics product design and manufacturing supply chain, reported.

The data is now available in SEMI’s Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Statistics (WWSEMS) Report.

China claimed the largest market for semiconductor equipment for the second time with sales expanding 58 percent to $29.6 billion to mark the fourth consecutive year of growth.

Korea, the second-largest equipment market, registered a sales increase of 55 percent to $25.0 billion, after showing strong growth in 2020.

Taiwan logged 45 percent growth to $24.9 billion to claim the third position.

Annual semiconductor equipment spending increased 23 percent in Europe and 17 percent in North America, which continues to recover from a contraction in 2020. Sales in Rest of the World jumped 79 percent in 2021.

Ajit Manocha, SEMI president and CEO, says: “The 44 percent increase in manufacturing equipment spending in 2021 highlights the global semiconductor industry’s aggressive push to add capacity.

“This drive to expand production capabilities extends beyond the current supply imbalance, as the industry continues to ramp up to address a wide range of emerging high-tech applications that will enable a smarter digital world with countless social benefits.”

Global sales of wafer processing equipment rose 44 percent in 2021, while other front-end segment sales grew 22 percent.

Assembly and packaging showed exceptional growth across all regions, resulting in an 87 percent market increase in 2021, while total test equipment sales rose 30 percent.

Compiled from data submitted by members of SEMI and the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan, the Worldwide SEMS Report is a summary of the monthly billings figures for the global semiconductor equipment industry.

Equipment categories cover wafer processing, assembly and packaging, test, and other front-end equipment including mask/reticle manufacturing, wafer manufacturing, and fab facilities.

Annual billings by region in billions of US dollars with year-over-year change rates