SAN JOSE, CA – In 2010, worldwide silicon wafer area shipments increased 40% to 9.37 billion in² compared to 2009, says SEMI. Revenues improved 45% year-over-year to $9.7 billion.

“Given current market forecasts, we are expecting solid demand for silicon wafers in 2011, although at a much more modest post-recovery rate,” said Dr. Volker Braetsch, chairman of SEMI SMG and corporate VP of Siltronic.

Wafer shipments are considered a leading indicator for future printed circuit board and electronics assembly orders.

The data include polished silicon wafers, including virgin test wafers, epitaxial silicon wafers, and non-polished silicon wafers shipped by the wafer manufacturers to the end-users.