Against the backdrop of growing demand for AI semiconductors, sales of Japan-made semiconductor manufacturing equipment in FY2025 are expected to reach a record high.
https://www.seaj.or.jp/file/july2025seajforecastforpress_j.pdf
🟦 Japan-made semiconductor equipment to reach 4,863.4 billion yen in FY2025
The Japan Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment Association (SEAJ) has announced that sales of Japan-made semiconductor manufacturing equipment in FY2025 will reach 4,863.4 billion yen, an increase of 2% compared to FY2024. This figure is an upward revision of about 200 billion yen from the forecast as of January, reflecting the booming capital investment in AI-related semiconductors.
- Sales in FY2025 will increase by 2% year-on-year on the back of demand for 2nm logic semiconductors and HBM for generative AI
- TSMC-led investment in mass production of 2nm generation is in full swing, increasing demand for equipment manufacturers
- It is expected to exceed 5 trillion yen (5,349.8 billion yen) for the first time in fiscal 2026 and reach 5,510.3 billion yen in fiscal 2027
🟦 Why are AI and 2nm driving equipment demand?
The background is a surge in demand for advanced semiconductors used in AI servers and smartphones. In particular, high-performance logic semiconductors and HBM (wideband memory) with fast data transfer speeds are essential to support the computational processing of generative AI models. Investments in manufacturing equipment are progressing in various countries, and SEAJ predicts that this trend will continue in the future.
In Taiwan, TSMC is taking the lead in preparing for mass production of the 2nm process, and investment is expected to begin in other regions such as South Korea, the United States, and Japan from FY2026 onwards. Considering the movements of competitors Samsung and Intel in the United States, device manufacturers are in a hurry to respond.
🟦 Summary
SEAJ’s latest forecast shows that the semiconductor equipment industry has once again entered a growth phase at the dawn of the AI era. In the future, AI will be implemented in edge devices such as smartphones and PCs, and demand for devices is expected to expand.
I would like to pay attention to what kind of position Japan equipment manufacturers can establish in this growing market.
