Global semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales reach all-time record $108 billion

Worldwide sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment increased 5 percent from $102.6 billion in 2021 to an all-time record of $107.6 billion last year, SEMI, the industry association representing the global electronics design and manufacturing supply chain.

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

For the third consecutive year, China remained the largest semiconductor equipment market in 2022 despite a 5 percent slowdown in the pace of investments in the region year over year, accounting for $28.3 billion in billings.

Taiwan, the second-largest destination for equipment spending, recorded an increase of 8 percent to $26.8 billion, marking the fourth straight year of growth for the region. Equipment sales to Korea contracted 14 percent to $21.5 billion.

Annual semiconductor equipment investments in Europe surged 93 percent, while North America logged a 38 percent increase. Sales to the Rest of World and Japan increased 34 percent and 7 percent year over year, respectively.

Ajit Manocha, SEMI president and CEO, says: “The record high for semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales in 2022 stems from the industry’s drive to add the fab capacity required to support long-term growth and innovations in key end markets including high-performance computing and automotive.

“Additionally, the results reflect investments and determination across regions to avoid future semiconductor supply chain constraints like those that surfaced during the pandemic.”

Global sales of wafer processing equipment rose 8 percent in 2022, while other front-end segment billings grew 11 percent. After robust growth in 2021, assembly and packaging equipment sales decreased 19 percent last year while total test equipment billings contracted 4 percent year over year.

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