AMSTERDAM, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Sales of equipment used to make computer chip wafers will rise about 9% to $126 billion in 2026 and a further 7.3% to $135 billion in 2027, as chipmakers expand capacity for logic and memory chips used in artificial intelligence, industry group SEMI forecast on Tuesday.
Most chips are made in Asia, and SEMI expects China, Taiwan and South Korea to remain the top markets for equipment through 2027, with China investing the most overall.
Taiwan, home to top chipmaker TSMC (2330.TW) , will expand leading-edge capacity, while South Korea, home to Samsung (005930.KS) and SK Hynix (000660.KS) , is investing in advanced memory chips used for AI.
“All other regions tracked are (also) expected to see equipment spending increase in 2026 and 2027, supported by government incentives, regionalization efforts and targeted specialty capacity expansions,” SEMI said.
The biggest supplier of chip equipment, ASML of the Netherlands, accounts for about a quarter of sales. Other top firms include Applied Materials (AMAT.O) , KLA Corp (KLAC.O) and Lam Research (LRCX.O) of the U.S., and Japan’s Tokyo Electron (8035.T) .

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SEMI forecasts a 9% increase in sales of chipmaking equipment to $126 billion by 2026, driven by AI demand. Sales are expected to rise further to $135 billion in 2027. China, Taiwan, and South Korea will remain key markets, with significant investments from companies like TSMC, Samsung, and SK Hynix. ASML, Applied Materials, KLA Corp, Lam Research, and Tokyo Electron are major suppliers.

- Sales of equipment for computer chip production are projected to increase by 9% to $126 billion in 2026 and by 7.3% to $135 billion in 2027, driven by chipmakers' capacity expansion for AI-related chips, according to SEMI.  
- China, Taiwan, and South Korea are expected to remain the leading markets for this equipment, with significant investments from China and Taiwan's TSMC and South Korea's Samsung and SK Hynix expanding advanced capacities.  
- Overall, growth in equipment spending is anticipated in all tracked regions due to government incentives and targeted capacity expansions.

AI boom seen lifting chipmaking equipment sales 9% to $126 billion in 2026