Strong growth in Q2 2014 silicon wafer shipments

SAN JOSE, USA: Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments increased during the second quarter 2014 when compared to first quarter area shipments according to the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) in its quarterly analysis of the silicon wafer industry.

Total silicon wafer area shipments were 2,587 million square inches during the most recent quarter, a 9.5 percent increase from the 2,363 million square inches shipped during the previous quarter. New quarterly total area shipments are 8.2 percent higher than second quarter 2013 shipments.

"For two consecutive quarters, strong silicon shipment growth has been recorded by the Silicon Manufacturers Group,” said Hiroshi Sumiya, chairman of SEMI SMG and GM of the Corporate Planning Department of Shin-Etsu Handotai Co. Ltd. “Silicon wafer shipments reached an all-time high in the second quarter, surpassing the previous peak of 2,489 million square inches shipped in the third quarter of 2010.”

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.