Chip equipment sales to rise 8.1 percent for this year

Global sales of semiconductor equipment may rise 8.1 percent this year as a recovering global economy spurs demand for consumer electronics, an industry group said.

Sales will increase to US$21.4 billion, from US$19.8 billion last year, according to a survey from industry group Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International distributed at the Semicon Japan Exposition in Tokyo. The survey forecast sales will increase 38 percent next year to US$29.6 billion.

The forecast may mean higher earnings at the world's biggest producers of chipmaking equipment such as Applied Materials Inc in the US, Tokyo Electron Ltd, in Japan, and ASML Holding NV of the Netherlands. Orders are rising as chipmakers such as Samsung Electronics Co and Toshiba Corp boost investment to meet demand for chips used in digital cameras and mobile phones.

Equipment sales in Japan may rise 46 percent this year to US$5.7 billion, while Korean companies' sales are forecast to surge 70 percent to US$2.8 billion. Sales in Europe may rise 11 percent to US$2.4 billion, according to the report.

North American sales may fall 24 percent to US$4.5 billion, while revenue for Taiwanese makers is forecast decline 16 percent this year to US$2.9 billion. All regions are forecast to post sales gains next year.

Global wafer processing equipment sales will rise 38.6 percent to US$19.8 billion next year, the report said.