Chip equipment makers see global sales falling

The slump in global semiconductor sales in 2019, down more than 13% on-year in the first half of 2019, has been the sharpest since 2009.

PETALING JAYA: Geopolitical tensions have prompted the US-based Semiconductor Equipment Manufacturing Industry (SEMI) to reduce its forecast for global sales by over 18% this year to US$52.7bil.

Global sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment by original equipment manufacturers were projected to drop to US$52.7bil this year from last year’s historic high of US$64.5bil, according the US-based trade body yesterday.