- 13 October 2005 -

Silicon wafers forecast to grow 2% in 2005

The leading suppliers of silicon wafers forecast year-end wafer shipments for 2005 to be 2% higher than 2004 shipments. According to the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group Consensus Forecast, total wafer shipments will increase by about 7% in 2006.

The Consensus Forecast, obtained through surveying SMG members, provides a silicon wafer shipment outlook for 2005 through 2008 and results forecast silicon shipments to reach 6,385m.sq.in for 2005; 6,862m.sq.in by 2006; 7,287m.sq.in for 2007, and 8,192m.sq.in by 2008.

"While 2004 was a record year for silicon shipments, volumes decreased significantly in the fourth quarter of last year. Now, we are seeing a recovery from that slowdown and we expect to see incremental year-on-year growth continuing to 2007, with anticipated growth in 2008 reaching double digits," said Makoto Tsukada, chairman SEMI SMG and GM of Shin- Etsu Handotai Co Ltd.

"This strong growth will be driven by 300mm, which by 2006 could represent 25% of total volume of silicon shipments."