Shipments of polished and epitaxial silicon are projected to be flat this year on a square inches basis, according to a new forecast by the fab tool trade group SEMI. Silicon shipments are projected to increase by 4 percent in 2012 and by another 5 percent in 2013, according to SEMI.
Total wafer shipments are expected to nudge past the high set last year and continue to increase at modest levels over the next two years, SEMI said. Shipments of polished and epitaxial silicon are expected to total 9.13 billion square inches in 2011, 9.53 billion square inches in 2012 and 10 billion square inches in 2013, according to SEMI's forecast.
"Given the tremendous shipment momentum established during the first part of the year total 2011 shipments are expected to remain at record levels," said Stanley T. Myers, president and CEO of SEMI, in a statement."While short-term softening is being experienced, growth expectations for the next two years remain positive."
