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China’s semiconductor equipment localization enters a new growth phase

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • China remains the world’s largest semiconductor equipment market, supported by AI demand, memory expansion, and continued fab investments.
  • The synchronized expansion of memory leaders CXMT and YMTC is accelerating equipment procurement across key manufacturing segments.
  • China’s semiconductor equipment localization rate increased from 8% in 2021 to 23.2% in 2025 and is projected to reach 39% by 2030.
  • Domestic suppliers are gaining ground in etch, deposition, and CMP, while lithography remains a long-term challenge.

 

Yole Group announces the release of its latest semiconductor equipment report, Mainland China Semiconductor Equipment Industry 2026, providing an in-depth analysis of one of the world’s most dynamic semiconductor equipment markets.

 

China’s semiconductor equipment ecosystem is entering a pivotal phase. Driven by rising demand for AI computing, increasing memory requirements, and ongoing investments in domestic manufacturing capabilities, the market is moving from ambitious expansion plans to tangible equipment procurement.

 

A major inflection point emerged in 2026 as China’s leading memory manufacturers accelerated their expansion strategies. CXMT’s planned capacity increase and YMTC’s new fab developments are generating significant demand for key semiconductor manufacturing equipment, including etch, deposition, and chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) systems.

 

Merle ZHAO Market Researcher, Semiconductor Equipment, at Yole Group: “The synchronized expansion of CXMT and YMTC is not a coincidence. It is an inevitable outcome driven by global demand for AI computing power and supply chain security considerations. Equipment makers will be the biggest beneficiaries of this capacity expansion cycle.”
 

As China concludes its 14th Five-Year Plan, the country’s semiconductor ecosystem continues to strengthen through strategic investments, industrial policy support, and the development of major regional clusters. Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen have emerged as leading hubs for logic devices, while Wuhan and Hefei have established themselves as key centers for memory manufacturing.

 

The report highlights how China’s strategy to secure semiconductor equipment from domestic suppliers is progressing at different speeds across equipment categories. Etch, deposition, CMP, and thinning equipment have entered a rapid substitution phase, supported by increasing technical maturity and growing adoption by domestic fabs. Other segments, including metrology, inspection, wet cleaning, and ion implant, continue to advance steadily, while lithography remains the industry’s most significant long-term challenge.

 

Overall, China’s semiconductor equipment localization rate increased from 8% in 2021 to 23.2% in 2025. According to Yole Group’s analysis, it is expected to reach 39% by 2030, reflecting a transition from policy-driven development toward performance-driven competitiveness.

 

John WEST Chief Analyst, Semiconductors Equipment at Yole Group: “A new generation of Chinese equipment suppliers is rapidly gaining ground, transforming the competitive landscape across several key semiconductor manufacturing segments.”

 

For equipment manufacturers, semiconductor companies, investors, and policymakers, understanding the pace and direction of China’s localization efforts has become increasingly important. Yole Group’s latest report provides a detailed assessment of market opportunities, technology gaps, competitive positioning, and future growth drivers across the semiconductor equipment value chain.

 

This report is part of Yole Group’s semiconductor equipment collection, which delivers strategic analyses of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, technology transitions, market dynamics, and competitive landscapes worldwide.

 

Yole Group also benefits from a dedicated team based in China, providing direct access to developments in the local market, industry stakeholders, and regional insights, enabling the delivery of reliable and actionable intelligence to clients worldwide.

 

For more information about this report or to schedule an interview with Yole Group analysts, please contact us.

 

 

Source: www.yolegroup.com

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