Coming Soon - 36 Fab Projects
Another 24 fabs will begin production during that time.
New fab activity will bring about an upswing in overall capital spending of 16% to $31bn, according to SMAs ongoing survey of chip company capital spending plans.
This is the first increase in capital spending since 2000. SMA also forecasts that nearly $20bn worth of new fab projects will begin construction this year. The total value of these projects, which will be realised over the next few years, is up 77% from 2002 when the value of new fab activity barely topped the $10bn mark. Continued migration to 130nm, increased interest in 90nm plus and the move to 300mm wafers are all expected to drive capital spending and new fab projects.
George Burns, president of Strategic Marketing Associates, comments: "Foundries too, are adding capacity especially those not ranked in the top three. They dont believe any technology or customer is reserved for TSMC, UMC or Chartered Semiconductor."
SMA has also compared the ramp of 200mm fabs versus 300mm fabs. There are almost 240 200mm fabs in operation today, almost all of which were built in the last ten years. If 300mm replaces 200mm in a manner similar to which 200mm replaced 150mm, the industry could need an additional 100 fabs at 300mm within the next 10 years, according to SMA.
