News Article
Top 10 tool makers increase market share during a bumper 2004
Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron and ASML have maintained their positions at the top of the semiconductor equipment industry, according to market analyst VLSI Research's table of the industry's leading tools manufacturers.
Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron and ASML have maintained their positions at the top of the semiconductor equipment industry, according to market analyst VLSI Researchs table of the industrys leading tools manufacturers.
US-based Applied Materials (2004 sales: US$7.6 billion) and Japans Tokyo Electron (US$4.7 billion) have now occupied the first two spots for 13 years while ASML has had third place for itself for the past three years.
Advantest posted the biggest rise in sales among the top 10 equipment suppliers for the second consecutive year. This propelled the company up two positions into fourth place – not bad for a firm that did not even feature among the top ten two years ago.
Advantest's sales have nearly quadrupled in the last two years, thanks to strong demand for its memory and silicon-on-chip testers.
Japanese suppliers make up five of the top 10 and together accounted for 42% of top 10 sales in 2004 – up 70% on 2003, marking the second consecutive year of high double-digit increases.
The four US companies in the top ten contributed nearly 47% of sales, a rise of 65% on 2003. This was a strong recovery for the US following a 5% fall in top ten sales in 2003.
Europe's share of the top 10, represented solely by Dutch lithography giant ASML, has been relatively stable in the last two years.
Overall, 2004 was a buoyant year for the top 10 tool makers, sales growing by 68% over 2003. The top 10 companies accounted for nearly 58% of total industry sales – a four point increase on 2003.
Unlike the major chip manufacturers, the leading semiconductor tools makers are strengthening their position in the market. Further consolidation in the equipment industry is set to maintain this trend.
US-based Applied Materials (2004 sales: US$7.6 billion) and Japans Tokyo Electron (US$4.7 billion) have now occupied the first two spots for 13 years while ASML has had third place for itself for the past three years.
Advantest posted the biggest rise in sales among the top 10 equipment suppliers for the second consecutive year. This propelled the company up two positions into fourth place – not bad for a firm that did not even feature among the top ten two years ago.
Advantest's sales have nearly quadrupled in the last two years, thanks to strong demand for its memory and silicon-on-chip testers.
Japanese suppliers make up five of the top 10 and together accounted for 42% of top 10 sales in 2004 – up 70% on 2003, marking the second consecutive year of high double-digit increases.
The four US companies in the top ten contributed nearly 47% of sales, a rise of 65% on 2003. This was a strong recovery for the US following a 5% fall in top ten sales in 2003.
Europe's share of the top 10, represented solely by Dutch lithography giant ASML, has been relatively stable in the last two years.
Overall, 2004 was a buoyant year for the top 10 tool makers, sales growing by 68% over 2003. The top 10 companies accounted for nearly 58% of total industry sales – a four point increase on 2003.
Unlike the major chip manufacturers, the leading semiconductor tools makers are strengthening their position in the market. Further consolidation in the equipment industry is set to maintain this trend.
