Semiconductor equipment investment to rise 7%

Investment into semiconductor equipment this year will rise 6% from the previous year’s US$59.6 billion to US$63.2 billion this year, SEMI said.

This will grow in further to over US$70 billion next year, which will be the highest ever to date, the organization said.

Wafer fabrication equipment will see investment rise 5% this year and 13% next year. This is thanks to increase in investment from the memory sector and China. Investments into foundry and logic areas will rise by one digit also next year.

Equipment investment for DRAM and NAND flash will exceed that of last year’s and rise 20% next year. 

In the areas of assembly and packaging, it will rise 10% this year to US$3.2 billion. This will rise 8% next year to US$3.4 billion.

Investment into testing equipment will rise 13% to US$5.7 billion this year.

The most investments will be made in China, Taiwan and South Korea. China is investing heavily in both foundry and memory and is expected to be the biggest spender next year.

Taiwan saw investment rise 68% in 2019 from the previous year but this will decline to 10% next year.

South Korea’s investment will rise 30% this year thanks to recovery of the memory market and reach US$15.9 billion this year.