Worldwide silicon wafer revenues grew by 2% in 2011 compared to 2010, according to the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG).
SEMI SMG’s year-end analysis of the silicon wafer industry, however, said that worldwide silicon wafer area shipments decreased by 3% in 2011 when compared to 2010 area shipments.
While revenues reached $9.9bn up from $9.7 bn posted in 2010, silicon wafer area shipments in 2011 came down to 9,043 million square inches (MSI) from 9,370 MSI shipped during 2010, the report said.
SEMI SMG chairwoman and MEMC vice president Kazuyo Heinink said while the recovery from the 2009 downturn continued into early 2011, silicon shipments lost momentum as global economic uncertainty increased during the second half of the year.
Silicon wafers are thin round disks and 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 report listed data from polished silicon wafers, including virgin test wafers, epitaxial silicon wafers, and non-polished silicon wafers shipped by the wafer manufacturers to the end-users.
