According to new figures released from SEMI's Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG), Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments increased 5.5 percent in 3Q06, reaching 2,074 million square inches. This compares to growth on 4.4 percent in 2Q06 and 3.2 percent growth achieved in 1Q06 over 4Q05. The new quarterly total area shipments are over 18 percent above third quarter 2005 shipments, according to SMG.

"We have seen tremendous growth in demand for silicon wafer shipments over the past year," said Tatsuhiko Shigematsu, chairman SEMI SMG and technology officer of SUMCO Corporation. "Going forward, we expect the growth rate to be in the single digits next year, but anticipate double digit growth in 2008 according to the recent SMG consensus forecast."

Polished and epitaxial wafers are growing at the average rate while non-polished wafer growth is relatively flat.