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
Saab Receives Order for Additional Live Training Equipment from U.S. Marine Corps
04/15/2025 | SaabSaab has received a contract modification award from the U.S. Marine Corps for additional Marine Corps Training Instrumentation Systems (MCTIS) equipment.
Cicor Reports Double-Digit Growth Driven by Integration & M&A
04/15/2025 | CicorThe Cicor Group has made a successful start to the 2025 business year. In the first quarter, sales increased by 22.2 % to CHF 131.1 million (Q1/2024: CHF 107.3 million), while order intake increased by 29.1 % year-on-year to CHF 125.8 million.
Electronic System Design Industry Posts $4.9 Billion in Revenue in Q4 2024
04/15/2025 | SEMIElectronic System Design (ESD) industry revenue increased 11% to $4,927.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 from the $4440.9 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2023, the ESD Alliance, a SEMI Technology Community, announced in its latest Electronic Design Market Data (EDMD) report.
Intel Announces Strategic Investment by Silver Lake in Altera
04/14/2025 | IntelIntel Corporation announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell 51% of its Altera business to Silver Lake, a global leader in technology investing.
FTG Announces Q1 2025 Financial Results
04/10/2025 | Firan Technology Group CorporationIn Q1 2025, the Corporation grew through acquisition and organically. FTG is strategically investing its capital in ways that will drive increased shareholder returns for the future in both the near term and long term. The company's achievements in Q1 2025 demonstrate this commitment, laying a strong foundation for future growth.