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Converting the latest wafer shipment numbers to metric, comparing them to chip sales, yet again |
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May 09, 2008 at 11:18 AM |
Since the silicon wafer shipment numbers came out earlier this week, it's time for Chip Shots to dive in and turn those square inches into square meters and see how the recent quarterly chip revenues stack up against the silicon slabs shipped.
Think of it as a public service in the cause of a unified global measurement system--and a continuation of my rant against the weirdness and inconsistency of otherwise metrically inclined folks continuing to prolong the agony of ye olde English system's death throes.
When will the tides turn, and the silicon sands
of time turn metric? (Photo: Tom Cheyney)
Wafer shipments were a tad down in 1Q2008 compared to 4Q2007, according to the latest info from SEMI's Silicon Manufacturers Group. Square inchwise, the total amount of sandy slabs shipped for the most recent quarter was 2.163 million versus 2.185 million for the previous period. Metrically, that converts to 1,395,481 square meters for 1Q08 versus 1,409,675 square meters for the 1Q07. Anyway you measure it, it represents a 1% drop quarter over quarter.
This is the first time in ages (note nonspecific amount) that wafer shipments have not increased, yet another indicator of what the SMG called "conservative industry sentiment." Still though, the group said the 300-mm portion of wafers shipped moved in a positive growth direction.
Since the Semiconductor Industry Assn. also released its 1Q08 global revenues figures recently, here's a quick comparison of chip sales per silicon area shipped. SIA says that the semiconductor companies garnered $63.4 billion in the quarter, compared to $66.8 billion in 4Q07 (a drop of 5.1%). If we divide the silicon number into the chip sales, we get $29.31 of revenues for every square inch of wafers shipped, or $45,458 for every square meter.
How does this number-crunching compare with Chip Shots' last crack at the silicon figures from a few months back? For 2007 the chip revenues per square inch of silicon shipped came out to $29.51, which was a drop from 2006's $30.97. The same calculation done on a per-square-meter basis reached $45,740 in 2007, down from 2006's $48,016.
Although one quarter's data does not an annual comparison make, the trend continues downward: Chipmakers make less money per unit area of silicon shipped than they have in the past.
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Comment by GUEST on 2008-05-12 16:25:35
Tom of Chip Shots replies: That's a good question, and one not answered in the data sets I played with. If anyone in the blogosphere has any leads on such info, pls send them along. | Comment by GUEST on 2008-05-12 14:43:13
what does average die size look like during the same time frame? |
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