Semiconductor equipment billings hit record $40.53B in Q2 as AI spending surges

The global semiconductor equipment industry posted its second consecutive record quarter, with billings reaching $40.53 billion in the three months ending in June, as chipmakers ramp up spending to meet demand driven by artificial intelligence infrastructure buildouts.

SEMI, the industry association representing the global electronics design and manufacturing supply chain, announced the figures on Wednesday, citing its Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Statistics report compiled from data submitted by SEMI and the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan. The total represented a 23 percent year-over-year increase and 11 percent growth from the first quarter of 2026, when billings of $36.55 billion had already set a record.finance.yahoo+3

AI Demand Fuels Spending Surge

The record spending reflects an industry racing to build out capacity for AI computing infrastructure at a pace that continues to outstrip supply. Memory chipmakers Samsung, SK hynix ↗ 7.05%, and Micron ↗ 2.75% have reportedly allocated all of their DRAM and high-bandwidth memory capacity through 2027, while Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra has warned that meaningful new large-scale capacity is unlikely to come online before 2028.forbes+1

The supply crunch has pushed equipment imports sharply higher across Asia. South Korea's semiconductor manufacturing equipment imports rose 60.1 percent year-over-year in July, according to Bank of Korea data, as the country's chipmakers accelerated investment. Equipment spending in South Korea rose 26 percent in 2025 to $25.8 billion, while Taiwan saw a 90 percent jump to a record $31.5 billion, according to SEMI's annual report.pulse.mk+2

A Structural Shift in Demand

Analysts describe the current cycle as more structural than cyclical. Research from IDC and TrendForce suggests memory supply constraints could persist beyond 2027, extending what was once considered a temporary shortage into a lasting challenge. Forbes reported in July that SK hynix is building a $4 billion advanced packaging facility in Indiana focused on HBM, with mass production not expected until late 2028.ibselectronics+1

The broader semiconductor market has mirrored the equipment boom. The Semiconductor Industry Association reported that global chip sales reached $403.3 billion in Q2 2026, a 35.1 percent increase from the prior quarter. South Korea's current account surplus, buoyed by semiconductor exports that surged 176.3 percent in July, hit a record $42.08 billion for the month.semiconductors+1

SEMI had forecast total equipment sales of $145 billion for 2026 and $156 billion for 2027. With first-half billings already exceeding $77 billion, the industry appears on track to surpass those projections.semiwiki