Global Fab Equipment Spending Poised to Log 3 Straight Years of Record Highs as COVID-19 Stokes Demand for Electronics
Fueled by surging pandemic-inspired demand for electronics devices, the global semiconductor industry is on track to register a rare three consecutive years of record highs in fab equipment spending with a 16% increase in 2020 followed by forecast...
The Substrate Crisis Deepens
Despite the pandemic lock-down, demand for electronic products and services remains strong. Work-from-home, video conferencing, and remote learning are driving data center growth and laptop and tablet demand. 5G infrastructure rollout is underway...
China Surges Past Americas and Japan in IC Capacity
Back in 2012, China ranked fifth among seven regions worldwide in IC wafer capacity but surged past the Americas and Japan in 2018 and 2019 to claim the number three position (figure 1). That’s a big deal given that ICs account for the largest share...
Global Chip Equipment Billings Continue to Soar Amid Pandemic
The global economy has started down a gradual path to recovery from COVID-19 in recent months as the world continues to combat the virus. Yet one sector – semiconductors – has shown impressive growth powered by a transformation hastened by the...
Semiconductors Outperforming Most Industries – but Watch Second Half
Things are picking up.
Semiconductor Industry vs. Global Pandemic
The World Bank just released its updated Global Outlook for 2020 and 2021. The text is long but very worth reading.
Coronavirus Takes on Electronics Industry
Plunging stock prices and Coronavirus-driven business shutdowns presently dominate the news. Current economic data, including the recently released February Global Purchasing Manager Index, support earlier negative predictions of an imminent...
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...
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.