Total Silicon Wafer Area Shipments of 11.81 Billion Square Inches

The SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) announced in its year-end analysis of the silicon wafer industry that global silicon wafer area shipments in 2017 increased 10 percent compared to 2016 shipments, with revenue rising 21 percent compared to 2016 levels.

2017 silicon wafer area shipments totaled 11.81 billion square inches, an increase from 2016's market peak shipment of 10.738 billion square inches. Revenue reached $8.71 billion, up 21 percent from $7.11 billion in 2016.

Neil Weaver, Chairman of SEMI SMG and Director of Product Development and Applications Engineering at Shin-Etsu Handotai America, stated, "Annual semiconductor silicon shipments have set record highs for four consecutive years." He added, "While silicon revenue last year also increased, it still remains considerably below the market peak established a decade ago."

All data cited in this announcement includes polished silicon wafers such as virgin test wafers and epitaxial silicon wafers.

Since silicon wafers are core materials for semiconductor manufacturing, they are essential elements in virtually all electronic products including computers, communications equipment, and consumer electronics. These precisely engineered thin, circular disks are produced in various diameters ranging from 1 inch to 12 inches and are used as substrate materials upon which most semiconductor devices and 'chips' are manufactured.