1,Stable prices for connectors
Buyers can expect stable pricing and lead times for connectors in 2013.
Connector manufacturers don’t anticipate any issues this year that could affect supply, and expect connector tags to remain steady,primarily due to the stabilization of raw materials pricing, particularly for precious metals.
Buyers may want to keep an eye on lead times for DDR memory connectors as the industry transitions from DDR3 to DDR4 next year.
Intel will be bringing out its next generation processors early next year and those will be the first processors that use DDR4 memory,so connector companies in that market are dealing with that transition.
2,Intel and Samsung Forecast to Represent 42% of Semiconductor Capital Spending in 2013
During 2010-2013, Samsung is forecast to spend $46.9 billion, with about 60% of this amount targeting memory production.
Intel is forecast to be second to Samsung in total outlays over this timeperiod with an expected $40.0 billion in capital expenditures.
These huge levels of spending are enough for each company to construct and equip ten or eleven $4.0 billion leadingedge 300mm wafer fabs.
The combined spending by Samsung and Intel represented 40% of the world’s semiconductor capital outlays in 2012,with this percentage expected to rise to 42% of total capital spending in 2013.
