Global 300mm Fab Equipment Spending to Reach $227 Billion in 2029 as Buildout Accelerates, SEMI Projects
U.S. Construction Pipeline Expands Amid Strong Global 300mm Investment
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 13, 2026 /CNW/ -- SEMICON West -- Global 300mm front-end fab equipment spending is projected to reach $149 billion in 2026, up 31% year-over-year, SEMI reported today in its latest 300mm Fab Outlook. Investment is expected to continue growing at double-digit rates through 2029, reaching $227 billion.
The stronger investment trajectory is accompanied by a sustained pipeline of new 300mm fabs and production lines moving through construction and into operation. Excluding pure R&D fabs, SEMI projects 20 new 300mm fabs or lines to begin construction worldwide in 2026 and 18 in 2027. In the United States, three are projected to begin construction in 2026 and four in 2027.
"Semiconductor demand is increasingly translating into physical manufacturing expansion across the global industry," said Ajit Manocha, SEMI President and CEO. "The latest outlook points to both stronger equipment investment and a substantial pipeline of fabs moving toward operation. This expansion will provide the manufacturing foundation needed to support AI, high-performance computing and a broad range of next-generation semiconductor applications."
Global Fab Construction Pipeline
Across all 300mm facilities, global fab construction spending is projected to rise 23% to $47.5 billion in 2026 and another 33% to $63.3 billion in 2027, before reaching $68.4 billion in 2028. The construction activity reflects continued investment in new manufacturing capacity across leading-edge logic, memory and other 300mm semiconductor technologies.
The U.S. represents an important part of this expansion, with additional 300mm fabs and lines expected to begin construction throughout the forecast period. Equipment investment in the Americas is projected to more than double from $18.1 billion in 2026 to $40.6 billion in 2029, reflecting the region's expanding manufacturing footprint.
SEMI projects 13 new 300mm fabs or lines worldwide to begin operations or ship first silicon in 2026, increasing to 23 in 2027.
The 3Q26 edition of the SEMI 300mm Fab Outlook reflects 166 changes across 163 fabs and lines, including 14 newly added records, since the previous report.
For more information on the report or to subscribe, please contact the SEMI Market Intelligence Team at [email protected]. Details on SEMI market data are available at SEMI Market Intelligence.
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About SEMI
SEMI® is the global industry association connecting over 4,000 companies and 1.5 million professionals worldwide across the semiconductor and electronics design and manufacturing supply chain. We accelerate member collaboration on solutions to top industry challenges through Advocacy, Workforce Development, Sustainability, Supply Chain Management and other programs. Our SEMICON® expositions and events, technology communities, standards and market intelligence help advance our members' business growth and innovations in design, devices, equipment, materials, services and software, enabling smarter, faster, more secure electronics. Visit www.semi.org or contact a regional office to learn more.
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Email [email protected]
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