Fourth straight record semicon materials revenue

SAN JOSE, USA: The global semiconductor materials market was flat in 2008 compared to 2007, as rapidly slowing economic conditions in the fourth quarter squelched prospects for year-over-year growth across the materials market. Semiconductor materials market revenues reached $42.7 billion globally in 2008.

The wafer fabrication materials and packaging materials were $24.1 billion and $18.6 billion, respectively. Comparable revenues for these segments in 2007 were $25.1 billion for wafer fabrication materials and $17.5 billion for packaging materials. The higher gold metal price in 2008 contributed to the year-over-year growth in the packaging materials market.

Japan remains the largest market consuming semiconductor materials consumption at 24 percent share due to its large wafer fab and packaging base, though currency conversion contributed to the year-over-year revenue growth.

Revenue growth in both the Rest of World (ROW) region and China is attributed to on-going expansion of wafer fab production capacity and to the impact of gold metal pricing associated with some packaging materials. Slowing industry conditions impacted the other reporting regions in 2008. (The ROW region aggregates Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, other areas of Southeast Asia and smaller global markets).

2007-2008 Semiconductor Materials Market by World Region

(Dollars in US Billions; Percentage Year-over-Year)



* Totals may not add due to rounding