The strong growth in 200mm wafer production reflects the sound capacity demand across several industry segments, SEMI reports
On the back of strong global demand for more content for mobile, Internet of Things (IoT), industrial and automotive applications, the production of 200mm wafers will reach up to 700,000 from 2019 to 2022, according to the latest Global 200mm Fab Outlook by SEMI, the global industry association serving electronics manufacturing supply chain.
During that period, there would be 14 per cent increase in the production of 20mm wafers. This rise would bring the overall 200mm wafer fab capacity to 6.5 million wafers per month, the report adds.
The strong growth in 200mm wafer production reflects the sound capacity demand across several industry segments. From 2019 to 2022, shipments of wafer for MEMS and sensors devices are likely to surge up to 25 per cent. Also, shipments for foundries and power devices are expected to increase by 18 and 23 per cent, respectively.
“The increases in 200mm fab count and installed capacity reflect continuing 200mm industry strength as it continues to add capacity and even open new fabs,” the report states.
Changes in Investment Plan
The recent sudden changes, across the industries, in investment plans for cutting-edge devices like memory have led to an estimated double-digit drop in the spending in 2019. With demand stable or even growing for mature devices using 200mm and smaller wafers, it would likely witness plans emerge for more 200mm capacity and new fabs to meet the increasing demand.
Since its last publication in July 2018, the latest SEMI report has included seven new facilities, with 160 updates to 109 fabs. An overall of 16 new facilities or lines, 14 of them volume fabs, are likely to start operations between 2019 and 2022.
The report also takes into consideration equipment transferred from one fab to another as well as equipment revitalised after being held in storage, such as for Samsung and SK Hynix.
