Worldwide semiconductor equipment shipments increased 15 percent to $8.82 billion in the third quarter, compared $7.64 billion to the third quarter of 2013, according to trade association SEMI. However, third quarter equipment shipments declined 8 percent from the second quarter of this year when sales totaled $9.62 billion.
New orders for chip equipment increased 4 percent to $9.32 billion in the third quarter compared to the same quarter one year ago. However, new orders declined 6 percent from the second quarter of this year, the association said.
Regionally, North America had the highest growth rate in the third quarter of this year compared to the third quarter of 2013. Semiconductor equipment shipments grew 77 percent to $2.16 billion compared to $1.22 billion in the third quarter of 2013, said SEMI. However, North American equipment revenue in the third quarter fell 7 percent from the second quarter of this year.
Chip equipment sales were highest in Taiwan where revenue totaled $2.32 billion in the third quarter, up 3 percent compared to the third quarter of last year.
China posted the second highest growth rate as equipment sales totaled $960 million in the third quarter, up 59 percent from the same quarter last year when sales were $600 million, according to SEMI.
Chip equipment sales declined sharply in Korea in the third quarter. Revenue fell from $1.5 billion in the third quarter of 2013 to $1 billion in the third quarter of this year. Chip equipment revenue also declined 7 percent in the third quarter compared to the second quarter, the association said.
Semiconductor equipment includes wafer processing, assembly and packaging, test, mask/reticle and wafer manufacturing equipment.
For the year, SEMI forecasts that the semiconductor equipment revenue will grow from $31.82 billion in 2013 to $37.97 billion in 2014.
Related links:
IHS Semiconductor Manufacturing
News articles:
Chip Equipment Spending Expected to Grow 15% in 2015
Fab Tool Orders Fall, Board Orders Rise
U.S. Manufacturing Moves Full Speed Ahead
