SEMI: Global equipment sales rose 6% in 2007
By Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior Editor -- 3/25/2008
Reflecting the momentum of the 300 mm ramp and intensive memory investments, industry association Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) reported late Monday that worldwide sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment rose 6% over $40.47 billion in 2006 to $42.77 billion.
Based on data from SEMI members and the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan (SEAJ), the global semiconductor equipment industry experienced its second best year ever, noted Stanley T. Myers, president and CEO of SEMI.
“Of note are the Taiwan and China regions where Taiwan has surpassed Japan and the China new equipment market is approaching the size of Europe's new equipment market,” he said in a statement.
Last week, acknowledging the US economy has seen better days, market researchers at IC Insights said that now is not the time to panic and tells the industry to hold out for full Q1 results before re-evaluating forecasts.
On a geographic basis, for the first time, the Taiwan market region spent more on semiconductor equipment than any other region, growing 46% over 2006 to reach $10.65 billion, while Japan claimed the number 2 spot with $9.31 billion in equipment sales. South Korea moved to number 3, reaching $7.35 billion, passing North America at $6.55 billion, reflecting a 10.6% drop from 2006.
In terms of the global wafer processing equipment market segment, sales increased 11% over 2006; the assembly and packaging segment grew 15%; and total test equipment sales decreased 21%. The other front end tools segment, which includes mask/reticle equipment, fabrication facility, and wafer manufacturing equipment increased 2%.
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