China Semiconductor Equipment Vendors Remain Upbeat On 2H22
China's semiconductor tools vendors managed to score excellent revenue gains for the first half of 2022 and remain confident about their shipment prospects for the rest of the year, thanks to large orders in hands, according to industry sources.
Advanced Micro-fabrication Equipment (AMEC) has reported its January-June revenues rose 47.1% on year to CNY1.97 billion (US$291.85 million), and orders in hands are valued at CNY3.06 billion, up 62% on the year and close to its 2021 revenues of CNY3.108 billion.
Its peer makers, including Biotech, ACM Research (Shanghai), Kingsemi, Naura Technology, and Hwatsing, have also registered notable revenue increases for the first half of the year, with clear order visibility through the next 6-12 months, the sources said.
The sources continued their development momentum has been bolstered by China-based foundry houses steadily proceeding with capacity expansions despite a significant slowdown in chip demand for consumer electronics devices.
China's top foundry SMIC maintains traditional construction progress for its three new 12-inch wafer fabs in Beijing, Shenzhen, and Shanghai; GTA Semiconductor has disclosed plans to spend over CNY26 billion on 12-inch fab capacity expansion at Shanghai Linking Economic Development Zone; and Hua Hong Semiconductor has also raised CNY18 billion to expand capacity at its Wuxi 12-inch fab, among others.
In the second-quarter 2022 alone, these foundries and other local peers, including Yan Dong Microelectronics Technology and Triton Semiconductor, together registered to purchase a total of 1,930 units of semiconductor processing machines and equipment through open tenders, the sources said, stressing that equipment demand will sustain momentum amid stable capacity expansion paces at China foundries.