China’s semiconductor equipment imports climbed 9% year-over-year in July, according to a Barclays report, marking a sharp acceleration from June’s 4% growth and a decisive reversal from the slump that defined the first half of the year.
The rebound was fueled by two categories in particular: logic-chip equipment and back-end assembly tools. Shanghai emerged as a key hub for the uptick.
From contraction to comeback
The July numbers look even more impressive when you zoom out. Q1 imports had cratered 16%, and Q2 still posted a slight 1% decline overall.
Lithography equipment imports rose 7%, up from a modest 3% gain in June. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) equipment surged 15%, a dramatic swing from the 16% decline CVD imports posted in the prior period. Etching equipment still declined but at a much gentler pace: July’s 6% drop was a meaningful improvement over June’s 24% plunge.
