1. Market demand: Semiconductor upgrade drives rigid demand for 300mm wafers

As global digital transformation accelerates, 300mm (12-inch) silicon wafers occupy more than 80% of the market share with higher efficiency and cost advantages. According to the SEMI report, 300mm production lines account for more than 90% of wafer fab equipment expenditures in 2023. It is expected that by 2026, monthly demand will exceed 8 million pieces, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.7%. The shortage of automotive chips and the demand for high-performance computing (HPC) have become the core driving forces.

2. Technological breakthrough: From purity to thinning extreme challenges

Material innovation: Wafer purity moves towards 11N (99.999999999%), and edge profile control accuracy is improved to nanometer level, meeting the process requirements below 3nm.

Advanced packaging: CoWoS and Fan-Out technology popularization promotes ultra-thin wafer (<100μm) processing technology innovation.

Alternative material exploration: SOI (silicon on insulator) and SiC-based 300mm wafer trial production, expanding the application of Internet of Things and power devices.

3. Competitive landscape: Giants expand production and regional supply chain reconstruction

Japan's Shin-Etsu Chemical, SUMCO and Taiwan's GlobalWafers dominate global supply, but geopolitics has prompted the EU and the US to accelerate local capacity construction. China's mainland plans to add five 300mm wafer fabs, and its capacity may account for 25% of the world's total in 2025.

4. Future trends: 300mm will continue to dominate the market under the stagnation of 450mm

Although the industry discussed 450mm wafers in the early stage, the upgrade cost of hundreds of billions of dollars forced manufacturers to focus on 300mm optimization. Through AI quality inspection, intelligent slicing and recycling technology, the utilization rate of single wafers has increased by 30%, extending the mainstream position for at least ten years.

Global silicon wafer shipments to grow 6% in Q3 2024