Date: 09/05/2012

Silicon wafer shipments of 1st quarter 2012 has slightly increased, says SEMI

According to SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG), the worldwide silicon wafer area shipments increased slightly during the first quarter 2012 when compared to fourth quarter 2011 area shipments. SMG has released its quarterly analysis of the silicon wafer industry and has provided this report.

Total silicon wafer area shipments were 2,033 million square inches during the most recent quarter, a 1 percent increase from the 2,009 million square inches shipped during the previous quarter. New quarterly total area shipments are 11 percent less than first quarter 2011 shipments.

"The first quarter of the year tends to be a time for seasonal softness for silicon shipment volume, though quarterly shipments did improve some compared to the fourth quarter" said Dr. Bruce Kellerman, chairman of SEMI SMG and senior director of Semiconductor product marketing at MEMC. "With modest growth forecasted for the semiconductor industry in 2012, we are optimistic that positive momentum will continue for silicon shipments."

Quarterly silicon area shipment trends
Semiconductor Silicon Shipments* - Millions of Square Inches
Million of square inches
Q1 2011 Q4 2011 Q1 2012
Total 2,287 2,009 2,033
*Shipments are for semiconductor applications only and do not include solar applications

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.

All data cited in this release is inclusive of polished silicon wafers, including virgin test wafers, epitaxial silicon wafers, and non-polished silicon wafers shipped by the wafer manufacturers to the end-users.