Robust growth ahead for silicon wafer shipments until 2024

Silicon wafers are the fundamental building material for the majority of semiconductors, which are vital components of all electronics including computers, telecommunications products, and consumer devices.

KUALA LUMPUR: Global silicon wafer shipments are projected to see robust growth through 2024, driven by strong secular demand for semiconductors across multiple end markets.

The Semiconductor Equipment Manufacturers Industry (SEMI) said it expects wafer area increasing 13.9% year-over-year in 2021 to a record high of nearly 14,000 million of square inches (MSI).

In its annual silicon shipment forecast for the semiconductor industry released recently, SEMI said the logic, foundry and memory sectors are contributing to the 2021 silicon shipment expansion.

“We are seeing a significant increase in silicon shipments driven by strong secular demand for semiconductors across multiple end markets,” said Inna Skvortsova, an industry research & statistics market analyst at SEMI.

“The growth momentum is expected to continue in the following years but could be tempered by the slowing pace of the macroeconomic recovery and timing of the wafer manufacturing capacity additions needed to meet growing demand.”

Forecast for growth of silicon shipments