SEMI: Global Silicon Wafer Shipments on Track for 2020 Recovery, 2022 Record High

Global silicon wafer shipments are set to increase 2.4% year-over-year in 2020, with growth continuing in 2021 and shipments reaching a record high in 2022, SEMI reported in its annual silicon shipment forecast for the semiconductor industry.  

 

“Silicon wafer shipments are recovering this year despite pressure from geopolitical tensions, the shifting global semiconductor supply chain and the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Clark Tseng, director of Industry Research and Statistics at SEMI. “With the pandemic accelerating digitization to transform businesses and their delivery of services worldwide, we expect continued growth over the next two years.”

2020 Silicon* Shipment Forecast (MSI = Millions of Square Inches) 

	Actual		Forecast
	2018	2019		2020	2021	2022	2023
MSI	12,541	11,677		11,957	12,554	13,220	13,761
Annual Growth	8.0%	-6.9%		2.4%	5.0%	5.3%	4.1%

*Total Electronic Grade Silicon Slices – Excludes Non-Polished Wafers

*Shipments are for semiconductor applications only and do not include solar applications

Source: SEMI (www.semi.org), September 2020