KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 13): Global sales of new semiconductor manufacturing equipment will increase 35.6% to US$55.9 billion in 2017, according to the U.S. based Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI).

In a statement on its website yesterday, SEMI said this market the first time that the semiconductor equipment market had exceeded the previous market high of US$47.7 billion set in 2000.

It said that in 2018, 7.5% growth is expected to result in sales of US$60.1 billion for the global semiconductor equipment market – another record-breaking year.

The SEMI Year-end Forecast predicts a 37.5% increase in 2017, to $45.0 billion, for wafer processing equipment.

The other front-end segment, which consists of fab facilities equipment, wafer manufacturing, and mask/reticle equipment, is expected to increase 45.8% to US$2.6 billion.

It said the assembly and packaging equipment segment is projected to grow by 25.8% to US$3.8 billion in 2017, while semiconductor test equipment is forecast to increase by 22% to US$4.5 billion this year.

SEMI said that in 2017, South Korea will be the largest equipment market for the first time.

It said after maintaining the top spot for five years, Taiwan will place second, while China will come in third.

SEMI said all regions it tracked will experience growth, with the exception of Rest of World (primarily Southeast Asia).

It said South Korea will lead in growth with 132.6%, followed by Europe at 57.2%, and Japan at 29.9%.

SEMI forecasts that in 2018, equipment sales in China will climb the most, 49.3%, to US$11.3 billion, following 17.5% growth in 2017.

It said that in 2018, South Korea, China, and Taiwan are forecast to remain the top three markets, with South Korea maintaining the top spot at US$16.9 billion.

China is forecast to become the second largest market at US$11.3 billion, while equipment sales to Taiwan are expected to approach US$11.3 billion.