Silicon Wafer Market to See Double-Digital Growth
Silicon Strategies siliconstrategies.com
02/17/2004, 6:50 PM ET
SAN JOSE, Calif.--Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments increased by 10 percent in 2003 over 2002, with double-digit growth projected for 2004, according to the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG).
Silicon wafer revenues grew by 5.5 percent in 2003 over 2002, according to SMG. Area shipments in 2003 totaled 5,149 million square inches (MSI), up from the 4,681 million square inches shipped during 2002, according to the group.
Fourth quarter silicon area shipments increased 6.5 percent from the prior quarter and were about 23 percent higher than the fourth quarter of 2002.
"Capacity utilization is tightening, as demand heats up for silicon wafers," said John Kaufmann, chairman of SEMI SMG and vice president of marketing for MEMC Electronic Materials Inc., in a statement "Another year of double-digit growth for silicon is forecasted in 2004, fueled by 300-mm production ramps in the fabs, greater end-market demand for consumer electronics, and strengthening in the U.S. economy." |
