US-China trade war dims bright future for semiconductors

IT advances signal long growth cycle, but linked supply chains vulnerable to export feuds

Explosive demand for chips is expected to buoy sales of semiconductor-making equipment over the long term, but trade tension between the U.S. and China is a cause for concern.

HIROMI SATO and MASAYA SATO, Nikkei staff writers

July 15, 2018 21:49 JST

PALO ALTO, U.S. -- Even as new technologies offer the promise of an unparalleled stretch of growth in the global semiconductor industry, top executives fear the sector will be used as a chip in the U.S.-China trade war.

Global shipments of semiconductor equipment are forecast to grow 10.8% this year and 7.7% in 2019, according to a report released Tuesday by SEMI, an association serving the manufacturing supply chain for the electronics industry.