SAN FRANCISCO — Semiconductor equipment sales will fall 2.6% year-over-year in 2012, according to SEMI's semiannual capital equipment forecast, released today.

The trade group said sales will slip to $42.4 billion, down from a 9% increase in 2011. Still, 2012 is likely to be the fourth highest spending year in history, behind 2011, 2007 and 2000.

SEMI, which released the study at the outset of the annual SemiCon West trade show, forecast spending to top $46 billion in 2013.

The forecast, although down, is improved over SEMI's January outlook, which called for a 11% drop in spending this year.

Only South Korea and Taiwan are expected to see regional growth this year. The two nations will become the largest two markets for equipment spending in 2012.  In 2013, Korea and North America are expected to claim the top spots, with Taiwan slipping to third.