Singapore's Total Fab Capacity to Increase 6.8% in 2010

Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) expects Singapore's total fab capacity to increase 6.8 percent in 2010, with 300mm capacity growing at 17 percent. “The Singapore market is growing,” said Dr. Dan Tracy, Senior Director, Industry Research and Statistics, SEMI. “Key investments being made in Singapore include the IM Flash fab, which will begin equipping this year, and growth at GLOBALFOUNDRIES (formerly Chartered Semiconductor), TECH Semiconductor, and UMC, who continue to invest in technology and capacity."

This is one the trends highlighted at yesterday's Market Trends Briefing during the kickoff of SEMICON Singapore 2010, Southeast Asia's largest exposition dedicated to semiconductor manufacturing technology, at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre.

SEMI indicated that Singapore is sharing in the strong recovery of the global semiconductor sales, and the equipment market in this region is expected to grow 80 percent in 2010.

Fong Pin Fen, Head of Electronics, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), said that at present, there is not enough fab capacity to go around, that is why majority of the foundries are increasing their capex this year. She noted that Singapore is the second largest city in the world in terms of wafer fab output.

New growth areas
EDB is focusing its efforts on electronics technologies that will address global trends, including the aging population and climate change. Some of the new growth areas highlighted by EDB include green electronics (power harvesting and power management), bioelectronics, plastic electronics (which includes flexible organic circuits and printed solar films), and security.

In addition, new initiatives by the EDB includes the 3D TSV (through-silicon via) technology, MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) and IC design, with a focus on analog, mixed-signal, and RF, as well as power management.

SEMICON Singapore 2010 brings companies from throughout the region together to discuss leading technologies and opportunities in the semiconductor equipment and materials industry. In addition to the three days of exhibition, SEMICON Singapore 2010 also offers three days of business and technical programs.

SEMI