Sales of Japan-made semiconductor and flat-panel display (FPD) equipment are forecast to reach 1.12 trillion yen (US$12.3 billion) in fiscal year 2010, up 37.7% from 813 billion yen in fiscal 2009, according to the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan (SEAJ). The estimated growth will bring an end to a three-year losing streak that began in 2007.
Despite a rebound in equipment orders, Japan's total chip-gear sales next fiscal year still show a 52% drop compared to a record 2.32 trillion yen in fiscal 2006.
In semiconductor equipment, SEAJ estimated sales are set to increase 36.7% to 769.8 billion yen in the year ended March 31, 2011, with about 35% of the sales coming from the local Japan market. The percentage slid to 38% in fiscal 2009 from over 50% over the previous three years.
Japan's sales of FPD equipment are expected to rise by 40% to 350 billion yen in fiscal 2010, with about 76% of the sales coming from foreign markets. The percentage was 57% in fiscal 2009, 83% in fiscal 2008 and 62% in fiscal 2007.