Five IC suppliers to hold one-third of 300mm wafer capacity in 2013, says IC Insights

Semiconductor industry capital spending is becoming more concentrated, with a greater percentage of spending coming from a shrinking number of companies. IC industry capacity is also becoming more concentrated and this trend is especially prevalent in 300mm wafer technology, according to IC Insights.

Samsung Electronics was by far the leader in 2012 having about 61% more 300mm capacity than second-place SK Hynix, IC Insights indicated. Meanwhile, Intel was the only other company that held a double-digit share of 300mm capacity at the end of 2012.

Assuming Micron Technology is successful in acquiring Elpida Memory in the first half of 2013, the combined 300mm wafer capacity of the two companies will make the merged company the second-largest holder of 300mm capacity in the world behind Samsung, IC Insights predicted.

Samsung is expected to maintain its lead in installed capacity through 2017, with aggressive capital spending plans seen over the past few years continuing over the next five years, IC Insights believes.

However, in terms of growth rate, IC Insights expects the largest increase in 300mm capacity to come from the pure-play foundries - TSMC, Globalfoundries, UMC and SMIC. In total, these four companies will more than double their collective 300mm wafer starts per month by 2017, IC Insights said.

IC Insights: 300mm wafer capacity leaders forecast, 2012-13 (installed capacity in k units per month)
2013 rank	Company	2012 installed capacity	2012 % of WW total	2013(e) installed capacity	2013(e) % of WW capacity
1	Samsung	675	18.8%	717	18.4%
2	Micron-Elpida*	512	14.3%	536	13.8%
3	SK Hynix	420	11.7%	450	11.6%
4	Intel	388	10.8%	441	11.3%
5	TSMC	356	9.9%	414	10.7%
6	Toshiba/ SanDisk	320	8.9%	320	8.2%
7	Globalfoundries	125	3.5%	150	3.9%
8	Nanya	125	3.5%	127	3.3%
9	UMC	97	2.7%	115	3.0%
10	Powerchip **	125	3.5%	90	2.3%
11	TI	51	1.4%	60	1.5%
12	SMIC	51	1.4%	57	1.5%
	Top 12	3,245	90.4%	3,477	89.5%
	Others	346	9.6%	410	10.5%
	Total	3,591	100%	3,887	100%

*Assumes Micron completes acquisition of Elpida in 1H13
**Assumes Powerchip either sells or tears down its P3 fab
Source: IC Insights, compiled by Digitimes, February 2013