November 7, 2001 – San Jose, CA – Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments declined 17% during 3Q01 compared to the previous quarter, according to what Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) reported in its quarterly analysis of the silicon wafer industry.
Silicon wafer area shipments totaled 824 million square inches in 3Q01, down 17% from the 988 million square inches shipped during 2Q01 and down 43% compared to the 3Q00.
“Conditions in the silicon market remain poor as the global semiconductor industry continues weather one of the worst years in its history,” said Stanley Myers, president and CEO of SEMI. “Quarterly silicon shipments have not been as low since the fourth quarter of 1996. The percent change from peak to bottom, however, is around 46%, which is comparable to the recession of 1985. The ongoing industry contraction has impacted future investment in expansion of silicon production and next-generation wafer technologies.”