SEMI: Worldwide Silicon Wafer Shipments, Revenue Set New Records in 2021
February 9, 2022 | SEMIEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments in 2021 increased 14% while wafer revenue rose 13% compared to 2020, topping $12 billion, to reach new all-time highs, the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) reported in its year-end analysis of the silicon wafer industry.
SEMI logoSilicon shipments totaled 14,165 million square inches (MSI) compared to 12,407 MSI shipped in 2020 to meet surging broad-based demand for semiconductor devices and a wide variety of applications. 300mm, 200mm and 150mm wafer sizes all saw strong demand. Wafer revenue reached $12,617 million, surpassing the previous record of $12,129 million set in 2007.
“The robust year-over-year growth in silicon wafer area shipments and revenue reflects the heavy dependence of the modern economy on silicon wafers,” said Neil Weaver, outgoing chairman SEMI SMG 2018-2021 and vice president, Product Development and Applications Engineering at Shin Etsu Handotai America. “Wafers are the engine of digital transformation and new technologies that are reshaping how we live and work.”
All data cited in this release includes polished silicon wafers such as virgin test wafers and epitaxial silicon wafers, as well as non-polished silicon wafers shipped to end-users.
Silicon wafers are the fundamental building material for the majority of semiconductors, which are vital components of all electronic devices. The highly engineered thin disks are produced in diameters of up to 12 inches and serve as the substrate material on which most semiconductor devices, or chips, are fabricated.
The SMG is a sub-committee of the SEMI Electronic Materials Group (EMG) and is open to SEMI members involved in manufacturing polycrystalline silicon, monocrystalline silicon or silicon wafers (e.g., as cut, polished, epi). The SMG facilitates collective efforts on issues related to the silicon industry including the development of market information and statistics about the silicon industry and the semiconductor market.
Suggested Items
Nordson Reports Q2 Fiscal 2025 Results and Q3 Guidance
05/30/2025 | BUSINESS WIRENordson Corporation reported results for the fiscal second quarter ended April 30, 2025. Sales were $683 million compared to the prior year’s second quarter sales of $651 million.
Rocket Lab Enters Payload Market with Agreement to Acquire Geost
05/28/2025 | BUSINESS WIRERocket Lab Corporation, a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire the parent holding company of Geost, LLC (Geost).
Global NEV Sales Top 4 Million in 1Q25; BYD Remains Dual Leader, Xiaomi Enters Top 10 in BEV Segment
05/21/2025 | TrendForceTrendForce’s latest reports reveal that global NEV sales—including BEVs, PHEVs, and FCEVs—reached 4.02 million units in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 39% YoY increase. NEVs accounted for 18.4% of total global auto sales for the quarter.
Geospace Unveils New Brand Identity Reflecting the Company’s Move into Diverse Markets
05/20/2025 | BUSINESS WIREGeospace Technologies Corporation announces a new brand identity, reflecting the company's transformation of its leadership and culture along with a redefined strategy focused on applied intelligent technology.
Eltek Reports 2025 Q1 Financial Results; Revenue Up 8%
05/20/2025 | PRNewswireEltek Ltd., a global manufacturer and supplier of technologically advanced solutions in the field of printed circuit boards (PCBs), announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.