Semiconductor companies are spending more than ever to stay competitive. In 2015, the total amount spent is forecast to be $68.7 billion, up 9% from 2014’s $63.3 billion. This breaks the previous record set in 2011 at $63.8 billion, as shown in the following graph.
Total Semiconductor Capital Expenditures, 2009-2015

Source: Semico Research Corp.
The Top 15
Accounting for almost 90% of the total spending are fifteen companies. The top fifteen companies stayed the same from 2014 to 2015, but their order did change somewhat. The top five spenders are no surprise, with Samsung in the top spot, followed by TSMC. What is unusual is Intel slipping into the third position. To round out the top five, GLOBALFOUNDRIES and Hynix switched places as the foundry expects to increase spending 22% this year versus Hynix’s 5% increase. In the top fifteen, the company with the largest increase is Sony, with a 207% increase to almost US$2 billion. The bulk of this increase is to expand image sensor production capacity, but some will also be spent on camera module production capacity, a relatively new market for Sony. Sony’s dollar increase is second only to Samsung’s, but this is partly due to the decline in value of the yen.