300mm Fabs to Show Major Ramp

Silicon Strategies
Mark LaPedus
Phoenix, AZ September 9, 2004

http://www.siliconstrategies.com/article/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=472...

It's no wonder that analysts predict excess capacity in 2005: the total number of 300-mm fabs worldwide equates to some 100 200-mm plants in terms of overall wafer output.

There are 10 300-mm fabs in production right now, with another 10 that are ramping up in the marketplace, said Jim Feldhan, president of Semico Research Inc., in an interview the firm's conference on Thursday (Sept. 9).

Another 8-to-10 300-mm fabs are on the drawing board, he said. In total, the current and projected 300-mm fabs in the market equates to 100 200-mm plants in terms of output for 8-inch equivalent wafers, he said.

As a result, "You will some excess capacity in 2005," he said. Indeed, following a major ramp of 300-mm fabs in the marketplace, the silicon foundry business is expected to experience overcapacity and a slowdown in 2005, according to an analyst from Semico of Phoenix (see July 1 story).