Worldwide silicon wafer shipments by ‘area’(million square inches) increased 5% in the second quarter of 2011, compared with the previous quarter, according to the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) in its quarterly analysis of the silicon wafer industry.
Total silicon wafer area shipments were 2,392 million square inches during the most recent quarter, a five percent increase from the 2,287 million square inches shipped during the previous quarter. New quarterly total area shipments are one percent greater than second quarter 2010 shipments.
"Silicon shipments increased during the most recent quarter,” said Dr. Volker Braetsch, chairman of SEMI SMG and corporate vice president of Siltronic AG. “It is notable how well silicon suppliers were able to support the overall semiconductor industry in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake and ensuing tsunami in Japan.”