IC Insights - Research Bulletins

Top 10 Forecast to Account for 66% of Capital Expenditures in 2010
Samsung, Intel, and TSMC to represent 38% of capital outlays

The top 10 semiconductor industry capital spenders (Figure 1) are forecast to represent two-thirds of the total outlays this year. The 66% share this year would be 11 points higher than the 55% share they held in 2005.

Figure 1

As shown in Figure 1, the top 10 capital spenders are forecast to increase their spending by 67% in 2010, much higher than the 51% jump now expected for total semiconductor industry spending this year. Moreover, if Intel were excluded, the remaining nine companies in the top 10 ranking would increase their spending by 91% in 2010!

Some brief comments on the top four companies' spending plans for 2010 are shown below.

Samsung: After ranking as the second largest spender in 2009, the company is highly likely to be the largest spender in 2010. Samsung has released conservative guidance for its capital spending plans this year ($4.7 billion for memory) and it would not be surprising to see the company's total 2010 semiconductor capital outlays at $6 billion or more!

Intel: Intel is in no rush to add significant capacity. Considering the company holds about 85% of the total MPU market, it knows how much MPU capacity is really needed and it will not overspend. Expect MPUs to remain relatively scarce this year as Intel (and AMD) would like to enjoy firming average selling prices (ASPs) for awhile longer.

TSMC: Spurred by the challenge from the upstart GlobalFoundries, the world's largest foundry is significantly ramping up its capital spending plans. As shown, TSMC is planning a 79% increase in capital outlays this year. The $4.8 billion dollar budget for 2010 is the highest level of spending by TSMC since 2000!

Toshiba: Flash memory demand is booming. However, Toshiba is very sensitive to the overspending/overcapacity history of the memory market (which drove it out of the DRAM segment). Look for the company to be aggressive but not overly so.

The March Update to The McClean Report will provide additional comments for the remainder of the top 10 spenders. The March Update will also present the latest information regarding the 2010 capital spending plans of 34 major semiconductor companies and review IC Insights' latest capital spending forecast through 2014.

Although many companies are planning to more than double their capital outlays this year, IC Insights believes that they will not be able to prevent rising IC ASPs and shortages from occurring (especially during the second half of this year).

Report Details

The 2010 McClean Report provides many more details about the 2010-2014 IC industry capital spending and capacity trends. Packed with 400 tables and graphs, the 2010 edition of The McClean Report is available in three-ring binder, CD-ROM, and on-line formats. Included with the subscription are free monthly updates by e-mail from March through November. A single copy of the report in CD-ROM or binder format is priced at $2,890. A bundled CD-binder set is priced at $3,385. An Internet access password is available as a $695 option. The report is also available under a multi-user corporate license for $5,990.

For more information, please visit www.icinsights.com/prodsrvs/mcclean/.

More Information Contact

For more information, contact: Bill McClean, president of IC Insights, phone: +1-480-348-1133, e-mail: bill@icinsights.com.

About IC Insights

IC Insights, Inc., based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is dedicated to providing high-quality, cost-effective market research for the semiconductor industry. Founded in 1997, IC Insights offers coverage of global economic trends, semiconductor market forecasts, capital spending and fab capacity trends, product market details, and technology trends, as well as complete IC company profiles and evaluations of end-use applications driving demand for ICs. For more information, contact +1-480-348-1133 or info@icinsights.com, or visit www.icinsights.com.

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		Bulletin
	February 23, 2010
	Top 10 Forecast to Account for 66% of Capital Expenditures in 2010 Samsung, Intel, and TSMC to represent 38% of capital outlays The top 10 semiconductor industry capital spenders (Figure 1) are forecast to represent two-thirds of the total outlays this year. The 66% share this year would be 11 points higher than the 55% share they held in 2005. Figure 1 As shown in Figure 1, the top 10 capital spenders are forecast to increase their spending by 67% in 2010, much higher than the 51% jump now expected for total semiconductor industry spending this year. Moreover, if Intel were excluded, the remaining nine companies in the top 10 ranking would increase their spending by 91% in 2010! Some brief comments on the top four companies' spending plans for 2010 are shown below. Samsung: After ranking as the second largest spender in 2009, the company is highly likely to be the largest spender in 2010. Samsung has released conservative guidance for its capital spending plans this year ($4.7 billion for memory) and it would not be surprising to see the company's total 2010 semiconductor capital outlays at $6 billion or more! Intel: Intel is in no rush to add significant capacity. Considering the company holds about 85% of the total MPU market, it knows how much MPU capacity is really needed and it will not overspend. Expect MPUs to remain relatively scarce this year as Intel (and AMD) would like to enjoy firming average selling prices (ASPs) for awhile longer. TSMC: Spurred by the challenge from the upstart GlobalFoundries, the world's largest foundry is significantly ramping up its capital spending plans. As shown, TSMC is planning a 79% increase in capital outlays this year. The $4.8 billion dollar budget for 2010 is the highest level of spending by TSMC since 2000! Toshiba: Flash memory demand is booming. However, Toshiba is very sensitive to the overspending/overcapacity history of the memory market (which drove it out of the DRAM segment). Look for the company to be aggressive but not overly so. The March Update to The McClean Report will provide additional comments for the remainder of the top 10 spenders. The March Update will also present the latest information regarding the 2010 capital spending plans of 34 major semiconductor companies and review IC Insights' latest capital spending forecast through 2014. Although many companies are planning to more than double their capital outlays this year, IC Insights believes that they will not be able to prevent rising IC ASPs and shortages from occurring (especially during the second half of this year). Report Details The 2010 McClean Report provides many more details about the 2010-2014 IC industry capital spending and capacity trends. Packed with 400 tables and graphs, the 2010 edition of The McClean Report is available in three-ring binder, CD-ROM, and on-line formats. Included with the subscription are free monthly updates by e-mail from March through November. A single copy of the report in CD-ROM or binder format is priced at $2,890. A bundled CD-binder set is priced at $3,385. An Internet access password is available as a $695 option. The report is also available under a multi-user corporate license for $5,990. For more information, please visit www.icinsights.com/prodsrvs/mcclean/. More Information Contact For more information, contact: Bill McClean, president of IC Insights, phone: +1-480-348-1133, e-mail: bill@icinsights.com. About IC Insights IC Insights, Inc., based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is dedicated to providing high-quality, cost-effective market research for the semiconductor industry. Founded in 1997, IC Insights offers coverage of global economic trends, semiconductor market forecasts, capital spending and fab capacity trends, product market details, and technology trends, as well as complete IC company profiles and evaluations of end-use applications driving demand for ICs. For more information, contact +1-480-348-1133 or info@icinsights.com, or visit www.icinsights.com.
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