Semicon Japan 2013 was held for 4 days starting from December 4 at Makuhari Messe, Chiba, sponsored by SEMI. On December 3, the day before the opening Yoichi Nakagawa, a representative of SEMI Japan, held a press conference. In attendance at the press conference were SEMI President and CEO Dennis P. McGuirk, and Kazuo Ushida, chairman of the Semicon Japan Promotion Committee, Representative Director of Nikon. The consensus forecast was announced regarding the global market for semiconductor fabrication devices. Also at the press conference were commentaries explaining the highlights of Semicon Japan 2013.

Regarding sales of semiconductors in the global market, SEMI President and CEO D. McGuirk forecasted that sales for 2013 should move along with a single digit growth. He also forecasted that for 2014 sales should be up from 1.5 digit figure to almost 2 digit at the later half of a single digit. Regarding fab investment, he noted that 2013 should be down by 8.3%, while 2014 should be pulled along by foundries and memory. His forecast for 2014, calls for a very strong recovery, chiefly in Taiwan with a growth of about 30%. He noted that for 2013 semiconductor fabrication devices were down by 13%, while for 2014 they should be up by 23%. For the materials market he commented that while there was a slight decline for 2013, for 2014 the market should be up by 3%. In any case, he predicted that 2014 should be a year of recovery. He stated that, “Japanese device and materials producers will still continue to play a very important role worldwide.” Mr. Ushida stated enthusiastically, “From the 80’s to the first half of the past decade for Semicon Japan the manufacturers of fabrication devices displayed their actual products, making this an occasion for them to approach the chip fabricators, but currently the number of chip fabricators coming to the exhibition, especially those from Japan, have become fewer in number. It has therefore become extremely difficult for the manufacturers to make the effort bring several thousand products weighting several tons to the exhibition for display. Right now a change is needed as to how Semicon Japan should be. Adjacent industries, that is to say, component and material producers, as well as producers of end use products which use semiconductors, are all industries in the upper stream. They will turn this into an occasion where they can accumulate and transmit information to approach these upstream industries.” Mr. Nakagawa, who represented SEMI noted, “D. McGuirk noted this too but Japan holds a large share in the global market, accounting for 40% of the devices and 60% of the materials. This year the number of post process producers putting out displays decreased and due to the decrease in the number of large companies putting out booths, there was a drop of 20% in the number exhibitors and booths．The exhibition is full of companies in line with the times. By moving the venue of the exhibition next year to Tokyo Big Sight, we can anticipate a recovery and an increase.”