Silicon Reclaim Wafer Market Logs Second Year of Strong Growth but Softening Ahead

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Logging a second consecutive year* of strong growth, the silicon wafer reclaim market surged 19 percent to $603 million in 2018 on the strength of a record number of reclaimed wafers processed, SEMI, the industry association representing the global electronics manufacturing and design supply chain, reported today in its 2018 Silicon Reclaim Wafer Characterization Summary. Growth, however, is forecast to taper off with the market expanding to $633 million by 2021. The 2018 total is well below the $703 million market high set in 2007.

While Japan-based suppliers continued to dominate the reclaim market by maintaining the largest portion of large-diameter (200mm and 300mm) reclaim capacity, the region's global capacity share of large-diameter wafers declined 2 percent to 53 percent in 2018. Reclaim suppliers based in Asia Pacific increased their global large-diameter capacity share to 31 percent, up from 30 percent in 2017, while companies based in Europe and North America maintained their relative capacity share of 16 percent. Global large-diameter wafer reclaim capacity increased 3 percent in 2018.

SEMI tracks a growing list of reclaim suppliers, now numbering 22. Nine are based in Japan, seven in Asia Pacific, and six in North America and Europe. The 2018 report now includes Advanced Silicon Technology, a Chinese supplier of 200mm silicon reclaim. Advanced Energy Technology Solution, a supplier of 300mm silicon reclaim in Korea, was added in 2017.

The recently published Silicon Reclaim Wafer Characterization Summary provides 2018 details, including regional reclaim pricing and capacity, on reclaimed silicon wafers in the global semiconductor market and a forecast to 2021. The SEMI report covers seven regions including North America, Japan, Europe, Korea, Taiwan, China, and Rest of World (ROW). Market estimates for reclaim wafers include the semiconductor equipment and IC manufacturing segments.

*The silicon wafer reclaim market increased 18 percent to $510 million in 2017, as SEMI previously reported.

About SEMI

SEMI connects more than 2,100 member companies and 1.3 million professionals worldwide to advance the technology and business of electronics design and manufacturing. SEMI members are responsible for the innovations in materials, design, equipment, software, devices, and services that enable smarter, faster, more powerful, and more affordable electronic products. Electronic System Design Alliance (ESD Alliance), FlexTech, the Fab Owners Alliance (FOA) and the MEMS & Sensors Industry Group (MSIG) are SEMI Strategic Association Partners, defined communities within SEMI focused on specific technologies.