Global semiconductor equipment billings slip in 2023
Worldwide sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment edged down 1.3% to USD 106.3 billion in 2023 from an all-time record of USD 107.6 billion in 2022, SEMI reports.
China, Korea and Taiwan – the top three regions in chip equipment spending in 2023 – accounted for 72% of the global equipment market, with China remaining the largest semiconductor equipment market.
The pace of investments in China accelerated 29% year-over-year, reaching USD 36.6 billion in billings last year. Equipment spending in Korea, the second-largest equipment market, fell 7% to USD 19.9 billion on softer demand and the memory market inventory correction. After posting four straight years of growth, equipment sales to Taiwan also contracted 27% to USD 19.6 billion.
Annual semiconductor equipment investments in North America rose 15%, largely on the strength of CHIPS and Science Act investments, while Europe logged a 3% increase. Sales to Japan and the Rest of World decreased 5% and 39% year-over-year, respectively.
“Despite a slight dip in global equipment sales, the semiconductor industry continues to show strength, with strategic investments fueling growths in key regions,” said Ajit Manocha, SEMI President and CEO, in a press release. “The overall results for the year were better than anticipated by most industry followers.”
Global sales of wafer processing equipment rose 1% in 2023, while other front-end segment billings grew 10%. After contracting in 2022, assembly and packaging equipment sales extended their decline, decreasing 30% in 2023, while total test equipment billings contracted 17% year-over-year.
| Region | 2023 | 2024 | YoY % |
| China | $36.60 | $28.27 | 29% |
| South Korea | $19.94 | $21.51 | -7% |
| Taiwan | $19.62 | $26.82 | -27% |
| North America | $12.05 | $10.48 | 15% |
| Japan | $7.93 | $8.35 | -5% |
| Europe | $6.46 | $6.28 | 3% |
| Rest of the World | $3.65 | $5.95 | -39% |
| Total | $106.25 | $107.64 | -1% |
