Fab spending heads for 88 percent growth in 2010

SAN JOSE, USA: According to the World Fab Forecast report released recently by SEMI, 2010 spending on worldwide fab projects, including construction, facilities, and equipping, could grow by 88 percent over 2009 levels. Since June 2009, SEMI’s World Fab Forecast has consistently predicted spending growth rate of more than 60 percent for 2010.

This latest projection is based on analyses of recently announced increases in capital spending plans, mainly by foundries and memory companies. Spending for memory has mainly gone into upgrading existing capacity, but in recent months, additional investments for new installed capacity have been announced. Also, a number of existing fab projects that were delayed with the downturn will move forward this year.

“Total spending on fab projects could approach $30.9 billion this year, well above the estimated $16.4 billion spent in 2009,” said Christian Gregor Dieseldorff, senior analyst of fab information of the SEMI Industry Research and Statistics group. “The 2010 spending recovery, however, remains substantially below the $46 billion spent in the 2007 peak year.”

In 2009, 27 volume fabs closed, including eleven 200 mm fabs and one state-of-the-art 300 mm fab. (Several planned fab closures were pushed out to 2010.) As a result of fab closures and low spending levels in 2009, installed fab capacity declined to 15.4 million wafers per month (200 mm equivalent).

Based on current capital spending plans, installed capacity is forecasted to grow 5 percent to 6 percent this year to about 16.1 million wafers per month.

Source: SEMI, USA