# Global Semiconductor Equipment Sales Forecast to Reach a Record $229 Billion in 2028, SEMI Reports

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/pr-news/global-semiconductor-equipment-sales-forecast-to-reach-a-record-229-billion-in-2028-semi-reports
- Published: 2026-07-14T21:00:00+07:00
- Author: PR Newswire

_AI-fueled Investment in Leading-edge Logic, Advanced Memory, Test and Packaging
Drives Five-Year Growth Surge in Semiconductor Equipment_

MILPITAS, Calif., July 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Global sales of total semiconductor
manufacturing equipment by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are forecast 
to reach a record high of $165.9 billion in 2026, increasing 23.2% year-on-year,
SEMI announced today in its _Mid-Year Total Semiconductor Equipment Forecast – OEM
Perspective_. Growth momentum is expected to continue through 2028, with total equipment
sales forecast to reach a record $229.5 billion, marking five consecutive years 
of growth as AI-driven demand reshapes semiconductor manufacturing investment.

The stronger outlook reflects accelerating investment in AI infrastructure, leading-
edge logic, advanced memory, and back-end technologies needed to support higher 
compute density, high bandwidth memory (HBM)-related investment, and increasingly
complex device architectures.

"AI is accelerating demand for more powerful and efficient chips, driving increased
investment across the semiconductor capital equipment market," said Ajit Manocha,
SEMI president and CEO. "The mid-year forecast points to a higher equipment spending
trajectory as chipmakers invest in the leading-edge logic, advanced memory, test
and packaging capabilities required for the AI era."

**Semiconductor Equipment Sales by Segment** 

After registering a record $116.9 billion in sales last year, the Wafer Fab Equipment(
WFE) segment, which includes wafer processing, mask/reticle, and fab facilities 
equipment, is projected to increase 23.1% to $143.9 billion in 2026. This represents
a significant upward revision from SEMI’s 2025 year-end forecast and reflects stronger
investment in advanced memory, especially HBM-related DRAM technologies, and leading-
edge logic applications. WFE segment sales are projected to expand 21.8% in 2027
and 14.1% in 2028 to reach the $200 billion mark, as manufacturers accelerate capacity
expansion and technology migration for AI-related workloads.

AI-related semiconductor demand is also driving expansion in back-end equipment.
After surging 55.3% in 2025, semiconductor test equipment sales are projected to
increase 31.0% to $15.3 billion in 2026, marking a strong upward revision from SEMI’s
2025 year-end forecast. Assembly and packaging equipment sales, which increased 
20.8% in 2025, are projected to rise 9.6% to $6.7 billion in 2026, broadly in line
with the prior forecast. Growth is expected to continue through 2028, with test 
equipment reaching $20.8 billion and assembly and packaging equipment reaching $
8.6 billion, supported by increasing device complexity, advanced and heterogeneous
packaging adoption, and more rigorous performance and reliability requirements for
AI and HBM devices.

**WFE Sales by Application**

WFE sales for foundry and logic applications are expected to increase 18.9% year-
over-year to $78.0 billion in 2026, driven by advanced-node capacity buildouts for
AI accelerators, high-performance computing, and premium mobile processors. The 
segment is forecast to grow 18.1% in 2027 and 13.6% in 2028, reaching $104.7 billion,
as the industry advances toward high-volume manufacturing at the 2nm gate-all-around
node.

Memory-related equipment spending is projected to expand significantly through 2028,
supported by HBM demand, advanced DRAM node migration, and NAND technology transitions.
DRAM equipment sales are projected to rise 39.0% to $38.8 billion in 2026, followed
by 27.4% growth in 2027 and 15.0% growth in 2028, reaching $56.9 billion. NAND equipment
sales are expected to grow 30.7% to $13.9 billion in 2026, then increase 31.1% in
2027 and 14.5% in 2028, reaching $20.8 billion, driven by 3D NAND layer migration
and investment in higher-density architectures.

**Semiconductor Equipment Sales by Region**

Mainland China, Taiwan and Korea are expected to remain the top three destinations
for equipment spending through 2028. Mainland China is projected to maintain the
leading position over the forecast period, though growth is expected to moderate
in 2026 following elevated investment levels in recent years. In Taiwan, spending
is supported by leading-edge capacity builds for AI and high-performance computing,
while Korea’s equipment spending is driven by advanced memory technologies, including
HBM. Other regions tracked are expected to see equipment spending increase in 2027
and 2028, supported by regionalization efforts, government incentives and targeted
specialty capacity expansions.

The SEMI forecast is based on collective input from top equipment suppliers, the
SEMI _Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Statistics_ (WWSEMS) data collection
program, and the industry-recognized SEMI _World Fab Forecast_ database.

**About SEMI Market Data**

The [Equipment Market Data Subscription (EMDS)](https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4730359-1&h=3857359921&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.semi.org%2Fen%2Fproducts-services%2Fmarket-data%2Femds&a=Equipment+Market+Data+Subscription+(EMDS))
from SEMI provides comprehensive market data for the global semiconductor equipment
market. A subscription includes three reports:

 ◦ Monthly **_SEMI North American Billings Report_**, an early perspective of equipment
   market trends
 ◦ Monthly **_Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Statistics_** **_(WWSEMS)_**_,_
   a detailed report of semiconductor equipment billings for seven regions and more
   than 22 market segments
 ◦ Bi-annual **_Total Semiconductor Equipment Forecast – OEM Perspective_**, an 
   outlook for the semiconductor equipment market

Download a sample [EMDS report](https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4730359-1&h=822436534&u=https%3A%2F%2Fdiscover.semi.org%2Fequipment-market-data-registration.html%3Futm_source%3Dsemi%26utm_medium%3Dpr%26utm_campaign%3DHQ-PR-20221130--WWSEMS&a=EMDS+report).

For more information about the report or to subscribe, please contact the SEMI Market
Intelligence Team at [mktstats@semi.org](https://www.thailand-business-news.com/pr-news/mktstats@semi.org).
More details are also available on the SEMI [Market Data webpage](https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4730359-1&h=100806895&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.semi.org%2Fen%2Fproducts-services%2Fmarket-data&a=Market+Data+webpage).

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**About SEMI** 

SEMI^(®) is the global industry association connecting over 4,000 companies and 
1.5 million professionals worldwide across the semiconductor and electronics design
and manufacturing supply chain. We accelerate member collaboration on solutions 
to top industry challenges through Advocacy, Workforce Development, Sustainability,
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technology communities, standards and market intelligence help advance our members’
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and software, enabling smarter, faster, more secure electronics. Visit [www.semi.org](https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4730359-1&h=4193558455&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.semi.org%2F&a=www.semi.org),
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to learn more.

**Association Contacts**
Sherrie Gutierrez/SEMIPhone: 1-831-889-3800

Email: [sgutierrez@semi.org](https://www.thailand-business-news.com/pr-news/sgutierrez@semi.org)

Stephanie Quinn/Bodewell Group (Media Inquiries)
Phone: 1-480-316-8370Email: [squinn@bodewellgroup.com](https://www.thailand-business-news.com/pr-news/squinn@bodewellgroup.com)

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