Semiconductor capex spending to be down 10% in 2008

Semiconductor companies are expected to spend about 10% less on capital equipment in 2008 as the industry continues to reel from an oversupply in memory chips and faces a possible spending correction, according to Gartner. Gartner forecasts a worldwide spending on semiconductor capital equipment of $40.3 bln in the coming year, down 9.9% from 2007 when chip companies spent $44.8 bln.