"AI, the Key Driver Reshaping the Semiconductor Industry"
Global front-end semiconductor companies are expanding their investments to meet the rapidly growing demand for generative artificial intelligence (AI) applications.
According to the "300mm (12-inch) Fab Outlook Report" published by the international semiconductor equipment and materials association (SEMI) on July 11, global wafer capacity is expected to maintain solid growth. When measuring the period from the end of last year to 2028, the growth rate is projected to average around 7% per year.
As a result, monthly wafer production capacity in 2028 is projected to reach an all-time high of 11.1 million units. This growth is attributed to the continued expansion of advanced process production capacity.
Advanced process production capacity below 7 nanometers (nm = one billionth of a meter) is expected to increase by approximately 69%, from 850,000 units per month last year to 1.4 million units in 2028, reaching a record high. This represents an average annual growth rate of about 14%, which is twice the industry average.
SEMI also forecasts aggressive expansion in the case of leading-edge processes below 2 nanometers, with capacity starting at less than 200,000 units this year and exceeding 500,000 units in 2028.
Ajit Manocha, CEO of SEMI, stated, "AI is the key driver reshaping the semiconductor industry," and added, "The proliferation of AI applications is driving demand for advanced chips."
Meanwhile, investment in advanced process equipment is also expected to exceed $50 billion in 2028, up from $26 billion last year. Investment in wafer equipment for processes below 2 nanometers is projected to more than double, rising from $19 billion last year to $43 billion in 2028, representing a 120% increase.
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