22 new 200mm fabs in capacity boom
Trade group Semi predicts a record high production of 6.6 million wafers per month with 22 new 200mm fabs.
Spending on 200mm fab equipment is expected to reach nearly $4bn in 2021 after passing the $3 billion mark in 2020 and hovering between $2 billion and $3 billion from 2012 to 2019. The higher levels of spending reflect the increased demand and chip shortages after the Covid-19 pandemic.
200mm fabs are quicker to ramp up than 300mm plants that are aimed at the leading edge process technologies at 7nm and below. However the boost in investment now risks overcapacity in two to three years’ time when the new fabs come online.
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“The 200mm Fab Outlook Report shows that, during the same period, wafer manufacturers will add 22 new 200mm fabs to help meet growing demand for 5G, automotive and Internet of Things (IoT) devices that rely on analog, power management and display driver integrated circuits (ICs), MOSFETs, microcontroller units (MCUs) and sensors,” said Ajit Manocha, SEMI president and CEO.
Foundries will account for more than half of fab capacity worldwide this year, followed by analog at 17 percent and discrete/power at 10 percent. China will lead the world in 200mm capacity with 18 percent share in 2021, followed by Japan and Taiwan at 16 percent each says the report.
Equipment investments are projected to remain above $3 billion in 2022, with the foundry sector accounting for more than half of the spending, followed by discrete/power at 21 percent, analog at 15 percent, and MEMS and sensors at 7 percent.
The SEMI 200mm Fab Outlook Report reflects 365 updates across 146 facilities and lines since the most recent update of the report in 2019. The report includes details on more 300 200mm fabs and lines.
Fab Outlook Report; www.semi.org
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