November 15, 2005 – Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments increased 9% during the 3Q05 when compared to the 2Q area shipments, according to the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) in its quarterly analysis of the silicon wafer industry.

Total silicon wafer area shipments were 1748 million sq in. during the most recent quarter, up from the 1606 million sq in. shipped during the previous quarter. The new quarterly total area shipments are 7% above 3Q04 shipments.

“The strength in silicon shipments exhibited in the second quarter of this year was followed by an even stronger third quarter,” said Makoto Tsukada, chairman of SEMI SMG and general manager of Shin-Etsu Handotai Co. Ltd. “This upward momentum was driven not only by the increasing proportion of 300mm wafers shipped but also by strong demand for 200mm wafers.”

All data cited in this release is inclusive of polished silicon wafers, including virgin test wafers, epitaxial silicon wafers, and non-polished silicon wafers shipped by the wafer manufacturers to the end-users.

The Silicon Manufacturers Group acts as an independent special interest group within the SEMI structure and is open to SEMI members involved in manufacturing polycrystalline silicon, monocrystalline silicon or silicon wafers (e.g., as cut, polished, epi, etc.). The purpose of the group is to facilitate collective efforts on issues related to the silicon industry including the acquisition of market information and statistics about the silicon industry and the semiconductor market.