Silicon Wafer Shipments Up 9% in Q1, Says SEMI
By Mark LaPedus
Silicon Strategies
05/11/2004, 8:45 PM ET
SAN JOSE, Calif.--Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments hit 1,514 million square inches during the first quarter of 2004, up 9 percent sequentially and up 29 from the like period a year ago, according to the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) on Tuesday (May 11).
Total silicon wafer area shipments were 1,514 million square inches during the most recent quarter, up from the 1,392 million square inches shipped during the previous quarter, according to the SMG.
In the like period a year ago, silicon wafer shipments hit 1,175 million, according to SMG, which acts as an independent special interest group within the SEMI trade group of San Jose.
"The silicon industry is anticipating strong growth for 2004, as shipments have surpassed the record level in year 2000 and factory utilization is tightening," said John Kaufmann, vice president of marketing for silicon wafer maker MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. and chairman SEMI SMG, in a statement.
"Revenue growth still lags area growth despite 300-mm sales becoming a more significant part of the silicon mix, although prices are starting to firm for smaller diameter wafers," he said. "Returning to sustainable profitability remains a key factor in our industry."
Still, the market is improving for vendors. Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments increased by 10 percent in 2003 over 2002, with double-digit growth projected for 2004, according to the 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 up from the 4,681 million square inches shipped during 2002, according to the group.
Fourth quarter '03 silicon area shipments increased 6.5 percent from the prior quarter and were about 23 percent higher than the fourth quarter of 2002 (see February 17 story).
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