SEOUL, Oct. 14 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co., the world's largest memory chipmaker, is forecast to invest US$9.2 billion in semiconductors next year, topping capital expenditures by other chipmakers for two straight years, an industry report showed Thursday.

   The projection, made in a recent report by market researcher Gartner Inc., represents a slight decline from the company's capital expenditure this year. Samsung Electronics revised up its chip investment for 2010 to $9.6 billion in a bid to widen gaps with its second-tier rivals.

   Industry leader Intel Corp. was forecast to spend $5 billion, down $200 million, in semiconductor capital expenditures next year, trailing behind the South Korean chipmaker.

   Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) was expected to be the industry's third-largest in terms of capital investment, spending $4.9 billion next year, according to the report.

   Toshiba Corp. was projected to double its investment from 2010 and invest $3.6 billion, and South Korea's Hynix Semiconductor Inc. will likely increase capital expenditure to $2.8 billion, it said.

   The U.S.-based researcher Stamford said overall capital expenditures by chipmakers are expected to amount to $55.8 billion in 2011, up around 10 percent from $50.7 billion this year.

   ylee@yna.co.kr
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