Total of 2.73 billion square inches, up 0.9% from Q2

SEMI, the International Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Institute, recently announced in its global wafer industry quarterly report that silicon wafer shipments increased in Q3 compared to Q2.

During Q3, silicon area shipments totaled 2.73 billion square inches, up 0.9% from 2.706 billion square inches in Q2.

▲The reflection of an emergency exit on the wafer seems to signify an increase in semiconductor wafer shipments.

This represents a 5.4% increase compared to Q3 shipments of the previous year. These figures include polished silicon wafers and epitaxial silicon wafers manufactured and shipped by wafer manufacturers, but exclude non-polished wafers and reclaimed wafers.

Volker Braetsch, Chairman of SEMI SMG (Silicon Manufacturers Group) and VP of Siltronic, stated, "Silicon wafer shipments in Q3 this year show a continuing upward trend."

▲Global silicon wafer size trend (including polished and epitaxial wafers only)


▲Quarterly silicon wafer area shipments (Unit: million square inches)

Silicon wafers are the fundamental material for semiconductors and are core components in virtually all electronic devices including computers, communication products, and consumer appliances. Highly specialized thin circular disk-shaped silicon wafers are manufactured in various sizes (diameter 1 inch to 12 inches) and are primarily used as substrate materials for semiconductor devices and chip manufacturing.