To: Proud_Infidel who wrote (9130 ) 3/10/2004 7:42:58 PM From: Proud_Infidel Respond to of 25522 Chip-equipment market grew 12% in '03, says SEMI Silicon Strategies 03/10/2004, 5:45 PM ET SAN JOSE, Calif.--Worldwide sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment totaled $22.2 billion in 2003, up 12.4 percent from 2002, according to a new report from the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) trade group here today (March 10, 2004). The report, which includes data for six major semiconductor producing regions and 19 product categories, shows worldwide billings totaled $22.2 billion in 2003, compared to $19.7 billion in sales posted in 2002. The data was compiled from data submitted by members of SEMI and the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan (SEAJ). "Although capital spending through the first three quarters of last year remained fairly cautious, 2003 ended on bright note for the global semiconductor equipment industry," said Stanley T. Myers, president and CEO of SEMI, in a statement. "The improved outlook for global semiconductor demand, coupled with tightening capacity, increased semiconductor revenues and rising equipment orders, supports expectations of a return of robust growth for equipment spending across all regions in 2004." The Korea and Japan market regions grew the most in 2003, rising 91 percent and 43 percent, respectively. The Europe market region grew 21 percent, as did the Rest of World market region, which aggregates equipment sales in mainland China, Singapore, Malaysia and other markets. North America, the largest regional market, fell 20 percent in 2003 to $4.7 billion. The region of Taiwan was the only other market region to fall last year, declining 16 percent to $2.9 billion.