Wafer makers cautious despite bullish 2004
Silicon wafer revenues meanwhile leapt by 26% in 2004 to US$7.3 billion compared with US$5.8 billion in 2003. In a further sign that 300mm technology is increasingly taking over from 200mm, 300mm wafer shipments grew to account for more than 15% of all shipments by the fourth quarter of 2004.
The figures from Semi SMG also show that polished wafers continue to dominate the market, making up 1.1 billion square inches of a total of 1.5 billion square inches of silicon area shipments during the fourth quarter, compared with 314 million for epitaxial wafers and 58 million for non-polished wafers.
Semi SMG chairman Makoto Tsukada said that although 2004 was a "very robust growth year" for silicon wafer suppliers, companies were remaining cautious. "Even though total wafer shipments surpassed the 2000 peak, total revenues in 2004 for silicon wafers were below the 2000 level. As a result, wafer manufacturers remain cautious about investing in new production capacity."
