| 2019 Wafer Shipments Down 6.3% from 2018
Turned to an upward trend starting in 2020, peaking in 2022.


The Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) announced its global silicon wafer outlook on the 1st.

Silicon wafers are a core material for semiconductor manufacturing. They are produced in various diameters ranging from 1 inch to 12 inches and are used as substrate materials on which most semiconductor devices and chips are manufactured.

According to SEMI, wafer shipments in 2019 are expected to decrease by 6.3% compared to last year, which set a record high. It is expected to return to an upward trend starting in 2020, and set a new record in 2022 with 12.785 billion ^lb² (square inches).

The projected annual shipments of silicon wafers through 2022 are 11.757 billion ^lm² in 2019, 11.977 billion ^lm² in 2020, 12.39 billion ^lm² in 2021, and 12.785 billion ^lm² in 2022.

Clark Chung, Director at SEMI, analyzed, “Silicon wafer shipments are expected to decrease this year due to semiconductor inventory and weak demand,” adding, “As the semiconductor market stabilizes next year, it will recover growth momentum in 2021 and 2022.”

Meanwhile, the data cited in this announcement includes polished silicon wafers such as virgin test wafers and epitaxial silicon wafers, but does not include non-polished wafers and reclaimed wafers.