Chip Market Boosts Silicon wafer shipments by 40% in 2010

Both the semiconductor industry's sales and shipments have reached record levels, and the semiconductor materials market has experienced strong growth. In 2010, the total volume of silicon wafer shipments increased by 40%, and wafers of all sizes have grown. As the semiconductor industry recovers in large scale, the growth of 150mm and 200mm wafer shipments is equivalent to that of 300mm wafers. On the whole, 2011 is expected to increase wafer shipments by 6%, and 300mm wafers may increase by 11-13%. The 150mm and 200mm wafer growth rate will slow down and is expected to be 2-3%.

Looking at the fabs' material revenues again, it is expected that the growth in 2010 will be 29% (the final year-end data will be released in March). Silicon wafer revenue rose by 40% to nearly $10.2 billion, and is expected to reach $10.8 billion in 2011. Photoresist and other lithography-related reagents increased to 2.45 billion U.S. dollars, and in 2011 will exceed 2.5 billion U.S. dollars. The CMP materials market is expected to grow by 9% in 2011 to reach US$1.3 billion.

The increase in total revenue of fab materials in 2011 is expected to be 5.5%, which is in line with the increase in the sales percentage of semiconductor industry in 2011. The strong demand for electronic products, especially mobile products, may cause the semiconductor industry to grow faster than expected, thereby increasing the demand for wafers and consumables.