Litho market to fall 47% in '02, but recovery seen in '03
By Mark LaPedus
Semiconductor Business News
(10/24/02 01:09 p.m. EST)
NEW TRIPOLI, Penn.--The current downturn in the semiconductor industry is taking a major toll in the chip-equipment market, especially in lithography.
Worldwide revenues for the lithography business are projected to hit $3.2 billion in 2002, down 29% from $4.5 billion in 2001, according to a report from The Information Network here today. During the IC boom in 2000, the worldwide lithography market hit $6 billion, according to the New Tripoli-based research firm.
The lithography market is also expected to hit 433 in terms of worldwide tool shipments in 2002, down 47% from 822 units in 2001, the report said. In sharp contrast, there were 1,083 lithography tools shipped in 2000, the report said.
However, the market is expected to recover in 2003. Worldwide sales of lithography tools are projected to hit $4.3 billion in 2003, a 25.6% growth rate over 2002, said Robert N. Castellano, president of The Information Network. And tool shipments are expected to hit 547 units in 2003, Castellano said.
“Companies have been trying to extend their existing tools for another generation or another year,” Castellano said. “As a result, we're in a period of under-investment in the semiconductor industry right now,” he told SBN.
Chip makers are expected to increase their purchases of leading-edge tools in 2003, including the advanced 193-nm scanners for use in processing 90-nm chip designs, he said. At present, chip makers are using 248-nm tools for 130-nm chip designs, but those workhorse tools are expected to run out of steam at that node. |
