Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments increased by 2% in the second quarter of 2012 compared to the corresponding quarter in 2011, according to analysis by SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG).
The total shipments were 2,447 million square inches during the second quarter of 2012 compared to 2,033 million square inches shipped during Q1 of 2012 and 2,393 million square inches in Q2 2011.
SEMI SMG chairman and senior director of Semiconductor Product Marketing at MEMC Bruce Kellerman said that as expected, second quarter silicon shipment volumes increased compared to both the first quarter and the second quarter last year. "Given the ongoing market uncertainties and challenges, the overall wafer demand for 2012 is expected to be relatively flat compared to 2011," he said.
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.
The shipments considered in this report include shipments for semiconductor applications only and do not include solar applications.
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