Chipmakers lock in 2028-2029 equipment deals as AI race doubles lead times to 2+ years
Gregory_C_Allen · x · 2026-11-05
Per Korean media etnews, top semiconductor equipment suppliers—Applied Materials, ASML, Lam Research, Tokyo Electron and KLA—are finalizing supply contracts for 2028, with some already discussing purchase orders for 2029.
- Equipment deals normally start 6-12 months before delivery; signing three years ahead is highly unusual. Lead times have more than doubled, with some tools taking over two years.
- The rush reflects chipmakers' fear of falling behind in the AI semiconductor race as surging demand meets limited equipment-maker capacity.
- ASML expects no litho supply shortfall through 2028 but is weighing capacity expansion; an industry executive expects the trend to persist through at least 2030.
- TSMC, Micron and Intel partners are drafting 2029 strategies, and Samsung/SK Hynix are urged to secure key tools early, with competition spreading into back-end packaging.
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