SEMI World Fab Forecast: Predicts 64 percent growth in fab spending

SAN JOSE, USA: SEMI’s World Fab Forecast predicts 64 percent growth in fab spending for 2010 to reach $24 billion.

A large portion (about $14 billion) is expected to come from six companies that have announced ambitious investment plans.

The major investments will come from six companies -- TSMC, GlobalFoundries, Toshiba, Samsung, Intel and Inotera. These companies will contribute more than half of the total fab capex spending expected in 2010. The increase of 64 percent appears high, but this percentage increase is against historic lows in 2009.

Christian Dieseldorff, senior analyst at SEMI, noted “Worldwide installed capacity is expected to decline by 2-3 percent in 2009 mainly due to the closure of 31 fabs. This overall capacity is expected to have a slow growth rate of only 4-5 percent in 2010, to about 21.5 million wafers per month (in 200 mm equivalents), and most spending in 2010 is expected to go towards upgrading fabs rather than expansion of installed capacity.”

The World Fab Forecast tracks planned projects resulting in any change of installed capacity.

SEMI World Fab Forecast report provides high-level summaries and graphs, in-depth analyses of capital expenditure, capacity, technology and products, down to the detail of each fab, and forecasts for the next 18 months by quarter. These tools are invaluable for understanding how 2009 and 2010 will look, and learning more about capex for construction projects, fab equipping, technology level, and products.