SAN JOSE -- Semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment capital expenditures are expected to yo-yo throughout 2012, with a first-half drop followed by a sharp second-half rebound, SEMI says.

The trade group predicts total equipment spending for 2012 will fall 10.6% year-over-year to $35 billion, but even so, 2012 sales will be the third-highest mark in the past decade, trailing 2011 and 2007.

By region, every market is expected to fall, except Korea, SEMI predicts, buoyed by Samsung, which is expected to hike its capex in 2012.

The trade group says 300mm installed capacity will grow at a "steady" pace -- roughly 11% year-over-year -- following 13% growth in 2011.

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