News Article
Silicon wafer shipments
SEMI releases latest data
SEMI recently completed its annual silicon shipment forecast for the semiconductor industry. This forecast provides an outlook for the demand in silicon units for the period 2010 – 2012. The results show polished silicon shipments totaling 9,142 million square inches in 2010, 9,702 million square inches in 2011, and 10,168 million square inches in 2012 (please refer to below table). Total wafer shipments are expected to surpass the high set in 2007 and continue to increase for the next two years.
"Silicon shipments reflect the tremendous recovery experienced by the semiconductor industry this year." said Stanley T. Myers, president and CEO of SEMI. "While current data suggest that growth rates are moderating, we expect that the industry will continue to be positive for the next two years."
Silicon wafers are the fundamental building material for semiconductors, which in turn, are vital components of virtually all electronics goods, including computers, telecommunications products, and consumer electronics. The highly engineered thin round disks are produced in various diameters (from one inch to 12 inches) and serve as the substrate material on which more than 95 percent of today’s semiconductor devices or "chips" are fabricated.
All data cited in this release are inclusive of polished silicon wafers, including virgin test wafers, and epitaxial silicon wafers shipped by wafer manufacturers to semiconductor end-users.
