NOVEMBER 5--Worldwide silicon-wafer area shipments declined slightly in 3Q02 compared to 2Q02, according to Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI; Santa Clara, CA; www.semi.org). Total silicon-wafer area shipments were 1263 million square inches during the most recent quarter, down from the 1273 million square inches shipped during the previous quarter. The new quarterly total area shipments represent a 53% improvement compared to 3Q01 area shipments, but are 13% below the peak of 1427 million square inches in the 3Q00.
"The relatively flat wafer shipment figure for this quarter was to be expected given the weakness in the broader technology sector," said Stanley Myers, president and CEO of SEMI. "2002 has proven to be another difficult year for the entire semiconductor industry, and investment by the wafer manufacturers to satisfy escalating wafer product diversity will continue to be a challenge."
