Survey: Wafer shipments to show robust growth till 2010

Leading suppliers of silicon wafers participated in a consensus survey by SEMI Silicon Manufacturing Group (SMG) to provide an outlook for the demand in silicon units for 2007-2010.

Results show silicon wafer shipments reaching 8,696 million square inches in 2007; 9,695 million square inches in 2008; 10,257 million square inches in 2009; and 10,840 million square inches in 2010.

Total wafer shipments are expected to experience robust growth through the entire forecast period with CAGR growth of 20 per cent in 2006, 9 per cent in 2007, 12 per cent in 2008, and 6 per cent for both 2009 and 2010, giving an average CAGR of 8 per cent for the five-year period.

"Growth in silicon shipments continues to be driven by 300mm." said Volker Braetsch, chairman SEMI SMG and corporate VP of Siltronic AG. "Total 300mm area is expected to exceed total 200mm area by next year. Yet, 200mm wafers will likely continue to be an important part of the market."

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