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Markets and Business

Gradual Rebound or Slight Dip – Two Scenarios for COVID-19 Impact to 2020 Global Silicon Wafer Market Sales

Uncertainty has gripped the silicon wafer market as the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to upend growth projections for 2020. Declines in both shipments and revenue plagued the silicon wafer market in 2019, a downturn that had given way to optimism for...

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Cautious Industry Outlook But . . . World SEMI Equipment Growth Resumes!

World Manufacturing Growth Flat to Start 2020 (Chart 1) 

The December Global Purchasing Managers Index was in zero growth territory (PMI = 50). However, the various country components varied significantly. With IHS Markit PMI data as a gauge of...

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Tide Has Turned

The November Global Purchasing Managers Index moved back into expansion territory (Chart 1). Admittedly results varied significantly by country but world global manufacturing activity resumed growth at year end.

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Critical Subsystems Suppliers’ R&D Spend Holding Up

Despite a tough year for critical subsystem suppliers, their overall expenditure on research and development has remained at near record levels – evidence that critical subsystems are indeed critical to the semiconductor manufacturing equipment...

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Semiconductor Industry Upturn by Early 2020?

Reports of 2Q’19 financials from all of the major OEMs in our 213 company global sample show that their electronic equipment sales declined 1.4 percent compared to the same quarter of last year (Chart 1). This OEM group’s combined sales growth...

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Size Matters … at Least in the Critical Subsystems Supply Chain

Clouds continue to persist over the semiconductor supply chain with little sign of lifting. In March, the decline in week-over-year chip sales appeared to be slowing, providing a glimmer of hope for the beginning of a new cycle. However, the recent...

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How Much Further to Bottom of this Memory Cycle?

In announcing its Q2 fiscal 2019 results, Micron Technology, Inc. provided lower-than-expected revenue guidance of between $46 billion and $50 billion for the current quarter. However, what was particularly noteworthy was the company’s announcement...

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A Ride on the Business Cycle

Global Growth Slows in Fourth Quarter

World electronic industry growth moderated (or contracted) in many sectors in late 2018. Compare Chart 1 (3Q’18 vs.3Q’17) to Chart 2 (4Q’18 vs.4Q’17). The length and color of the bars tell the story. The...

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Despite Uncertainty, Long-Term Semiconductor Market Outlook Remains Bright

This year, SEMI ISS covered it all – from a high-level semiconductor market and global geopolitical overview down to the neuro morphic and quantum level. Here are key takeaways from the Day 1 keynote and Economic Trends and Market Perspectives...

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China Wafer Production Capacity Growth Fastest in World

Region’s Fab Capacity Expansion Picks up Pace

Unwavering in its drive to build a strong, self-sufficient semiconductor supply chain, China plans more new fab projects than any other region in the world from 2017 to 2020, and its expansion of fab...

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