SEMI’s latest materials forecast is for more than an 11 percent rise in
2008, over the $42 billion in revenue achieved in 2007, despite the
slowdown in capital spending and overall semiconductor industry growth
expected in single digits for the year.
"As the semiconductor companies continue to ship record amounts of
units, demand for materials is increasing as well,” said Dan Tracy,
senior director of Industry Research and Statistics at SEMI.
"Heightened demand in addition to the tight supply for various gases,
silicon, and the widespread adoption of advanced packaging technologies
are resulting in very strong revenue growth for semiconductor materials
suppliers.”
Japan controlled 22 percent of semiconductor
materials consumption with its large number of operating facilities.
Taiwan was second for the fourth year in a row. The Rest of World
region (ROW), which aggregates Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, other
areas of Southeast Asia and smaller global markets claims the third
largest materials market due to packaging materials. China is growing
at the fastest rate though is historically from a smaller base than
other regions.