Tokyo, Japan–Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International’s (SEMI) ‘Consensus Forecast,’ which includes input from 72 of the trade association’s member companies in the U.S., Europe, and Japan, projects that the semiconductor manufacturing equipment market will grow 22% in 2001 to US$57.2 billion.

The year-end edition of the biannual survey reflects the robust growth seen in capital spending in 2000 and the continued optimism among equipment companies for growth in 2001, according to SEMI. By product category, the survey results indicate that sales of wafer process equipment should rise to $38.7 billion in 2001, 24.1% above the $31.2 billion expected for 2000. Sales of assembly and packaging equipment are expected to increase to $4.7 billion, up 23.6% from $3.8 billion in sales forecast for 2000. Test equipment sales should reach $10.9 billion in 2001, up 16.6% from $9.3 billion in 2000.

“After what has been the best year ever for the semiconductor equipment industry, confidence remains high among capital equipment companies that strong growth will continue into 2001,” says Stanley T. Myers, president and CEO of SEMI. “While we have seen moderation of growth in recent months, new manufacturing technologies including 300mm and advanced sub-micron processes are expected to drive equipment orders through 2001.”

By region, total equipment sales should reach $57.2 billion in 2001, with North America accounting for $14.6 billion, 20.4% above the $12.2 billion in regional sales forecast for 2000. Taiwan follows with expected sales of $12.4 billion, 27.2% above forecast 2000 sales of $9.8 billion, and Japan should post $10.3 billion in sales, 16.7% above the $8.9 billion expected this year.