SEMI says chip industry on rise

Survey Industry body SEMI said today that worldwide growth in the semiconductor chip industry showed optimistic signs. Over 80 member companies in the US, Europe and Japan were surveyed in the bi-annual report. Those respondents account for 80 per cent of worldwide revenue in the market. The survey looked at equopment companies which predicted a nine per cent growth for 1999, compared to only 6.7 per cent this time last year. Further, the survey shows that growth in 2000 is expected to be 18.3 per cent and in the year 2001 21.8 per cent. Total value of the equipment market in 1999 is expected to be $23.7 billion. ®