SEMI (Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International) recently published its annual wafer (including polished and epitaxial silicon wafers) shipment volume forecast, showing that the overall wafer shipment volume in 2016 is projected to reach 10,444 million square inches, up 2% year on year, and is expected to break the industry's record of 10,269 million square inches set in 2015. In addition, SEMI forecast that wafer shipments in 2017 and 2018 will grow further to 10,642 and 10,897 million square inches, respectively. The organization said that silicon shipment volumes were soft at the beginning of this year before picking up in recent months. The strength is expected to continue and result in modest annual growth for the segment well into 2018.
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Actual Shipments
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Forecast Shipments
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|
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2014
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2015
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2016
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2017
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2018
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Million Square Inches
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9,826
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10,269
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10,444
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10,642
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10,897
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Annual Growth Rate
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11%
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5%
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2%
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2%
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2%
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Source: SEMI, October 2016