Worldwide semiconductor capital equipment spending is projected to total $37.5 billion in 2014, an increase of 12.2 percent from 2013 spending of $33.5 billion, according to Gartner, Inc. Capital spending will increase 5.5 percent in 2014 as the industry begins to recover from the recent economic downturn and total spending will follow a generally increasing pattern in all sectors through 2018.
"While capital spending outperformed wafer fab equipment (WFE) spending in 2013, the reverse will hold for 2014," said Bob Johnson, research vice president at Gartner. "Total capital spending will grow by 5.5 percent, while WFE will increase 13 percent as manufacturers pull back on new fab construction and concentrate in ramping new capacity instead.