One signal

Global sales of chip-making equipment are forecast to reach a record $229.5 billion in 2028, according to SEMI, the industry trade group, in figures cited by TheStreet. The forecast covers the machinery used to manufacture chips, including tools for lithography, deposition and inspection.

Why it matters

That points to a sizeable build-out behind the AI chip boom, though it is a forecast, not a tally of orders already placed. TheStreet’s account also notes that different equipment makers serve different stages of production: ASML supplies lithography machines, while KLA focuses on inspecting and measuring wafers.

Discuss: Should chip-equipment makers invest ahead of forecast AI demand, or wait for confirmed orders before expanding capacity?

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