Well known for its semiconductor packaging prowess, Mainland China in recent years shifted its focus to front-end semiconductor fabs and a few key material markets. In 2018, the region's surge in fab investment thrust it past Taiwan as the second largest capital equipment market in the world, behind only Korea.
Image: Mainland China Semiconductor Silicon Wafer Outlook Report
However, Mainland China's semiconductor manufacturing growth faces strong headwinds. Chief among them is the tight supply of silicon wafers over the past two years due in large part to the sector oligopoly's firm control of global production, with the top five wafer manufacturers accounting for over 90 percent of market revenue. In response, Mainland China's central and local governments has made the development of its domestic silicon wafer supply chain a key initiative, funding multiple silicon wafer manufacturing projects.
According to the 2018 Mainland China Semiconductor Silicon Wafer Outlook report, many of Mainland China's domestic silicon suppliers capably provide wafers 150mm in size and smaller. And the while the region lags peers in 200m and 300mm processing technology and capacity, strong domestic demand and favorable policies have fueled progress in 200mm and 300mm silicon manufacturing with some Mainland Chinese suppliers having reached key large-diameter manufacturing milestones. However, it will take these new suppliers several years before they can meet capacity and yield requirements of the larger-diameter silicon wafer market. Company plans and announcements indicate that by the end of 2020, total silicon supply capacity in Mainland China will reach 1.3 million wpm for 200mm, possibly leading to a slight oversupply, and 750,000 wpm for 300mm.
Mainland China's equipment suppliers, particularly crystal furnace vendors, are also investing in the development of 300mm wafer manufacturing, and domestic tool suppliers have developed most of the necessary tools for wafer manufacturing, except for inspection.
While Mainland China's silicon wafer suppliers continue to lag international peers in manufacturing capabilities, the region's silicon manufacturing ecosystem is maturing and becoming better integrated. The sector's growth is driven and accelerated by significant domestic market demand and favorable policies.
About the Mainland China Semiconductor Silicon Wafer Outlook
SEMI's 2018 Mainland China Semiconductor Silicon Wafer Outlook is a comprehensive research report with a Microsoft Excel® workbook containing in-depth analysis of Mainland China's silicon wafer manufacturing ecosystem as it relates to the global semiconductor wafer industry. The report covers the latest developments in Mainland China's silicon wafer supply chain, including details on the rise of Mainland China's silicon manufacturing, polysilicon, and silicon wafer-related equipment companies. The report also examines policies, funding and their implications for Mainland China's silicon wafer supply chain.
About SEMI
SEMI® connects over 2,100 member companies and 1.3 million professionals worldwide to advance the technology and business of electronics manufacturing. SEMI members are responsible for the innovations in materials, design, equipment, software, devices, and services that enable smarter, faster, more powerful, and more affordable electronic products. FlexTech, the Fab Owners Alliance (FOA), the MEMS & Sensors Industry Group (MSIG), and Electronic Systems Design Alliance (ESDA), are SEMI Strategic Association Partners, defined communities within SEMI focused on specific technologies. Since 1970, SEMI has built connections that have helped its members prosper, create new markets, and address common industry challenges together. SEMI maintains offices in Bangalore, Berlin, Brussels, Grenoble, Hsinchu, Seoul, Shanghai, Silicon Valley (Milpitas, Calif.), Singapore, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.semi.org and follow SEMI on LinkedIn and Twitter.
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