The Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) stated that global semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales this year are expected to increase by 6.53% year-on-year, setting a historical record of US$112.83 billion. This data will continue to increase in 2025 and 2026, reaching US$121.47 billion and US$139.42 billion respectively.
In the statistical caliber of SEMI, the overall semiconductor manufacturing equipment can be divided into three categories: one large and two small, including wafer manufacturing equipment WFE, test equipment, and assembly including wafer processing and photomask/mask and wafer fab facilities and equipment. and packaging (A&P) equipment, the latter two of which belong to the category of back-end equipment.
Growth Trends in Sales of Semiconductor Equipment by Category
The report points out that the WFE category is the main force in current sales. SEMI predicts that WFE category sales will reach $100.75 billion, up from $98 billion in mid-2024. This growth is mainly driven by AI’s demand for standard DRAM and advanced broadband memory (HBM). In future advanced processes and memory applications, there will still be significant demand growth, further driving the expected growth in WFE sales. By analyzing WFE, we can see that equipment sales in the foundry and logic product directions will remain stable at $58.6 billion again in 2023. This data is expected to grow at a sequential rate of 2.8% and 15% by 2026, reaching US$69.3 billion.
In terms of back-end equipment, as the complexity of high-performance computing (HPC) semiconductor devices increases, demand in mobile, automotive and industrial end markets has also shown a strong upward trend. Sales of testing, assembly and packaging equipment are expected to continue growing, outpacing growth in front-end equipment.
Specifically analyzing the WFE category, we can see that equipment sales in the foundry and logic directions will remain flat in 2023, at approximately US$58.6 billion. But looking forward, growth of 2.8% and 15% is expected in 2025 and 2026 respectively, with sales expected to reach US$69.3 billion in 2026. This growth is mainly affected by two factors: advanced manufacturing processes and capacity expansion.
From the perspective of the memory market, the growth trends of DRAM and NAND flash memory show obvious differentiation. According to SEMI data, the year-on-year growth rates of DRAM memory from 2023 to 2026 will be 0.7%, 47.8%, and 9.7%, respectively, with sales reaching $15.1 billion in 2026; while the year-on-year growth of NAND flash memory will be 35.3% respectively. %, 10.4% and 6.2%, and is expected to reach about US$22 billion in 2026. This changing trend reveals that the competition in the memory market is becoming increasingly fierce, and the requirements for technology are also constantly improving.
This series of data clearly reflects that the continued development of the AI industry will continue to promote technological innovation and market expansion in the semiconductor industry. At the same time, this also prompts relevant companies to increase investment in advanced processes and intelligent equipment to better cater to future market needs.
Technological Developments Drive Demand for Semiconductor Equipment
With the rapid development of technology, the types and performance of smart devices are constantly updated, which has brought new growth points to the overall market. Demand in the fields of high-performance computing and communication equipment continues to rise, driving demand for semiconductor equipment. In addition, the expansion of mobile device, automotive and industrial end markets is also driving device sales growth.
For ordinary consumers, these changes mean that the performance of smart devices will be more powerful. Coupled with the popularization of AI technology, in the future, mobile phones, computers and other electronic products will not only significantly improve their speed, but also their level of intelligence and users. The experience will also reach new heights. For example, in the field of smartphones, camera systems integrated with AI algorithms can implement functions such as smart beauty and night shooting modes, greatly enriching users’ photography experience.
Against this background, companies and entrepreneurs should also keenly capture market trends and increase research and application of AI-related technologies. Whether it is using AI painting and AI copywriting tools to improve creative efficiency, or using AI data analysis tools to optimize product design and marketing, it will be a road to innovation for self-media entrepreneurs and technology companies.
Global Semiconductor Industry Outlook
It is worth noting that the rapid growth of semiconductor manufacturing equipment is closely related to the current forefront of technological development, especially the deepening application in the field of artificial intelligence. AI technology not only accelerates the introduction of new products, but also promotes the evolution of equipment technology as a whole. For example, in fields such as AI painting and AI writing, AI algorithms such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN) and Variational Autoencoders (VAE) have greatly improved the efficiency of image and text generation, creating more attractive digital art and content.
As the global semiconductor manufacturing equipment market expands, technological innovation in various fields continues to accelerate. The application of cutting-edge technologies such as AI is gradually changing the face of traditional manufacturing and promoting higher-level industrial upgrading. It is expected that in the coming days, the semiconductor industry trend will continue to achieve higher growth and build a richer industrial ecology, driven by both technological innovation and market demand. SEMI’s report not only provides an important reference for decision-making within the industry, but also reveals the bright prospects for the future of the global semiconductor industry.
In terms of the use of smart devices, the efficiency and convenience created by AI technology have enriched various application scenarios. Against the background of increasing computing demands, whether enterprises can quickly deploy AI-centric solutions will directly affect their competitiveness. Through intelligent tools like Simple AI, companies can achieve efficiency leaps in areas such as content creation and data analysis. Therefore, paying attention to the combination of the development of the semiconductor industry and the application of AI technology, if we can keep pace with the times, we will surely take the lead in future market competition. It should be noted that as the market grows, potential risks will also rise, including the stability of the supply chain and the sustainability of technological innovation. Therefore, the industry needs to remain rational, actively respond to challenges, and ensure healthy development.
