SEMI Announces Silicon Wafer Shipment Forecast

Wafer Shipment Forecast to Remain Flat in 2013 and Increase in 2014 and 2015

SAN JOSE, Calif. — October 3, 2013 — 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 2013–2015. The results show polished and epitaxial silicon shipments totaling 8,876 million square inches in 2013; 9,230 million square inches in 2014; and 9,684 million square inches in 2015 (please refer to below table). Total wafer shipments are expected to remain below the all-time high set in 2010 this year but reach record levels in 2014 and 2015.

"Economic uncertainty continues to hamper silicon demand,” said Denny McGuirk, president and CEO of SEMI.  “We expect 2013 silicon shipment volumes to remain essentially flat when compared to 2012 and increase in 2014 and 2015."

2013 Silicon Shipment Forecast
Total Electronic Grade Silicon Slices* – Does not Include Non-Polished
(Millions of Square Inches)

Source: SEMI October 2013

*Shipments are for semiconductor applications only and do not include solar applications

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 most semiconductor devices or "chips" are fabricated.

All data cited in this release is inclusive of polished silicon wafers, including virgin test wafers  and epitaxial silicon wafers shipped by the wafer manufacturers to the end-users.

The Silicon Manufacturers Group acts as an independent special interest group within the SEMI structure and is open to SEMI members involved in manufacturing polycrystalline silicon, monocrystalline silicon or silicon wafers (e.g., as cut, polished, epi, etc.). The purpose of the group is to facilitate collective efforts on issues related to the silicon industry including the development of market information and statistics about the silicon industry and the semiconductor market.

About SEMI

SEMI is the global industry association serving the nano- and micro-electronic manufacturing supply chains. Our 1,900 member companies are the engine of the future, enabling smarter, faster and more economical products that improve our lives. Since 1970, SEMI has been committed to helping members grow more profitably, create new markets and meet common industry challenges. SEMI maintains offices in Bangalore, Beijing, Berlin, Brussels, Grenoble, Hsinchu, Moscow, San Jose, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.semi.org.