Mainland China enters top chip equipment spenders

Mainland China is expected to come in behind Taiwan and South Korea in 2016.

Mainland China, which is making a bid to become one of the world's biggest chipmaking nations, is likely for the first time to be among the top-three spenders on chipmaking equipment in 2016, according to industry association SEMI.

The big spenders will be Taiwan, South Korea and mainland China, SEMI said in a press statement released at the annual SEMICON Japan exhibition in Tokyo. Mainland China, with a forecast expenditure of $6.7 billion, will overtake the number-three spot from Japan, coming in at $4.8 billion, according to SEMI.

Total worldwide spending will increase by 8.7 percent to $39.7 billion, according to the chip industry association, which also forecast an increase in expenditure on chipmaking equipment in 2017 to $43.4 billion.

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