MILPITAS, CA – Worldwide sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment edged down 1.3% to $106.3 billion in 2023 from an all-time record of $107.6 billion in 2022, SEMI reported in its Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Statistics (WWSEMS) report.

China, Korea and Taiwan – the top three regions in chip equipment spending in 2023 – accounted for 72% of the global equipment market, with China remaining the largest semiconductor equipment market. The pace of investments in China accelerated 29% year-over-year, reaching $36.6 billion in billings last year. Equipment spending in Korea, the second-largest equipment market, fell 7% to $19.9 billion on softer demand and the memory market inventory correction. After posting four straight years of growth, equipment sales to Taiwan also contracted 27% to $19.6 billion.

Annual semiconductor equipment investments in North America rose 15%, largely on the strength of Chips and Science Act investments, while Europe logged a 3% increase. Sales to Japan and the Rest of World decreased 5% and 39% year-over-year, respectively.

"Despite a slight dip in global equipment sales, the semiconductor industry continues to show strength, with strategic investments fueling growths in key regions," said Ajit Manocha, SEMI president and CEO. "The overall results for the year were better than anticipated by most industry followers."

Global sales of wafer processing equipment rose 1% in 2023, while other front-end segment billings grew 10%. After contracting in 2022, assembly and packaging equipment sales extended their decline, decreasing 30% in 2023, while total test equipment billings contracted 17% year-over-year.