"I don't predict a drastic upturn but the second half of this year will be better," Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) president and chief executive Stanley Myers said at a press briefing.

Growth would come from segments within the semiconductor industry such as consumer electronics, communications and the computing sector, he said.

Myers said the global semiconductor equipment market was expected to dip about 5.0 percent this year to 35 billion US dollars after jumping 67 percent to 37.08 billion dollars in 2004.

The semiconductor materials market is likely to expand 6.0 percent this year to 30 billion dollars, slowing from 18-percent growth in 2004.

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