According to market research firm Gartner recently released data show that 2012 global semiconductor capital spending will be down 19.5% compared with 2011, mainly due to the impact of slowing global economic environment.

Gartner said worldwide semiconductor capital spending in 2012 will fall to $ 51.7 billion, down from $ 64.2 billion in 2011.

Gartner Executive Vice President Klaus Rinnen said in a statement, natural disasters and economic environment in 2011, but then the semiconductor capital equipment market have impacted, but expected 2011 capital expenditures will increase 13.7% over 2010; However, due to macro-economic slowdown, coupled with weak demand and in Thailand by the floods and other adverse factors, rising inventories and to make the personal computer industry downturn, which will impact the 2012 industry outlook.

Gartner expects the semiconductor industry slowdown of the current situation will continue into the second quarter of 2012, but, due to supply and demand will reach equilibrium, or even a shortage of supply.

Once the supply has stabilized, DRAM and foundry will need to start to increase spending to meet consumer spending and the personal computer market recovery when demand rebounded. Estimated total semiconductor capital spending in 2013 will increase 19.2%, to $ 64.6 billion, while capital equipment spending in 2013 will grow 25 percent to $ 42.5 billion.
Gartner also expects 2011 wafer fabrication equipment (WFE) sector plans will grow 9.8 percent, to $ 34.7 billion, and is expected to WFE spending in 2012 will decrease by 22.9% to $ 26.7 billion.

For the back-end processing provider in terms of capital expenditure, low-cost solution for 3D packaging and copper wire bonding will remain focused, but its rate of increase has slowed.
In automatic test equipment (ATE) markets, Gartner expects a slight decline than in 2010, and the system of advanced single-chip radio frequency and stability of market demand, general ATE market is the main supporting force.

However, with the DRAM capital spending continued to slow in 2011 ATE growth may decline.
However, Gartner expects NAND 2011 test platform will be stronger than the general memory test market, analysts expect 2012 sales of test equipment market will decline significantly, but in 2013 the market will be steady growth.

The industry did well in the early part of the year, in many cases entering the year with backlog from an exuberant 2010," said Stephan Ohr, semiconductor research director at Gartner. "But uncertainty about the state of the macroeconomy set in at the midpoint of the year."

He said consumers soon after held off purchases, and infrastructure expansion plans languished as governments resisted assuming more debt.

Gartner's $302 billion revenue figure matched the recent 2011 forecasts of the Semiconductor Industry Association and non-profit World Semiconductor Trade Statistics organization.



Intel Corp. (INTC) maintained its top position for the 20th consecutive year, as 2011 marked Intel's highest-ever market share, at 16.9%, Gartner said. Its previous high was in 1998, when it captured 16.3% of the market. Its revenue growth from 2010 was 22%, as it brought in about $51.05 billion in revenue.

Samsung Electronics Co. (005930.SE) held its No. 2 spot on slightly improved revenue of $29.15 billion, while Texas Instruments Inc. (TXN) took the No. 3 slot thailand from Toshiba Corp. (6502.TO). Renesas Electronics Corp. (6723.TO), Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) and STMicroelectronics N.V. (STM) followed.

Earlier this month, Gartner slashed its worldwide semiconductor revenue forecast for 2012, now expecting $309 billion, citing broad uncertainty for the market, led by murky prospects in the euro zone, Thailand flooding and shaky consumer spending.








Article website Electronic Components