The SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) has released details concerning total silicon wafer area shipments for the third quarter of 2007, highlighting a slight decline in shipments compared to the second quarter of 2007. 

"In line with the historic pattern, the pace of wafer area shipments has slowed slightly for the third quarter," said Dr. Volker Braetsch, Chairman SEMI SMG and Corporate Vice President of Siltronic AG. "This is the result of smaller area diameter wafer shipments declining while 300 mm wafer shipments continued to grow."

Total silicon wafer area shipments were 2,174 million square inches in 3Q07 compared to 2,201 in 2Q07. However, shipments remain above last year’s levels indicating shipments are up about 5 percent year-over-year, yet essentially flat sequentially.