SEMI noted that fab spending would increase about 18.3% in 2011 and about 9.5% in 2012, with the ongoing technology upgrades and continued capacity growth, especially in LED segment.
In 2011, the spending on construction projects would decrease about 11% and in 2012 it would become much less due to a currently uncertain outlook for new fab construction starts. But it estimated that spending on fab equipment would rise 23% to about US$40 billion in 2011.
These increases were modest compared to double-digit growth rates seen each year from 2003 to 2007. The LED segment displayed most obviously with double-digit installed capacity growth rates for the past six years.
