SAN FRANCISCO -- Manufacturers of semiconductor equipment expect 2006 to be the second largest year ever for sales of new semiconductor equipment, according to a mid-year forecast by the SEMI Capital Equipment Consensus announced during SEMICON West.
 
Following an 11.3% decline in 2005, the equipment market will grow 18% to $38.8 billion in 2006. Survey respondents – based on interviews conducted in May and June with major equipment companies – see the market remaining flat in 2007 but resuming double-digit growth to reach $44.1 billion in 2008.
 
 
The forecast indicates that wafer processing equipment will experience the most significant growth this year, rising 20% to $27.4 billion. The market for assembly and packaging equipment will grow 11.6% to $2.4 billion in 2006, while the semiconductor test equipment market is expected to grow 14% to $6 billion this year.
 
The market in China leads the growth in 2006, with 78%. Taiwan (22%) and North America (21%) and Europe (14%) are also projecting growth, according to SEMI.

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