TOKYO -- The spread of the internet of things has led to an unexpected secondhand market in the semiconductor industry. A shortage of equipment used in their manufacture has led many companies to purchase used equipment from leasing companies and manufacturers.
Kenji Takada, general manager of the electronics equipment department at Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing, said many companies are vying for used semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Prices of the company's equipment now stand at about 20-30% higher than the lows seen after the 2008 global financial crisis.
