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Reflecting macroeconomic concerns and following the slightly weaker Q1, silicon wafer area shipments on a worldwide basis grew more than 6% sequentially during Q2 over Q1 area shipments, according to industry association SEMI's silicon manufacturers group (SMG) in its quarterly analysis of the silicon wafer industry.

Total silicon wafer area shipments were 2.303 billion square inches in Q2, compared to 2.163 billion square inches shipped during Q1, and compared to Q2 2007, total area shipments increased almost 5%, SEMI said.

"Following the slightly weaker first quarter and macro economic concerns, silicon shipments grew more than 6% in Q2 which is in-line with normal seasonality for the quarter, particularly with the start of a new fiscal year for most Japanese companies. This growth was mainly attributed to 300mm," commented Ms. Kazuyo Heinink, chairwoman of SEMI SMG and VP for new product marketing at MEMC Electronic Materials.

All data cited is inclusive of polished silicon wafers, including virgin test wafers, epitaxial silicon wafers, and non-polished silicon wafers shipped by the wafer manufacturers to the end-users.

In February, SEMI reported that silicon wafer shipments grew in 2007 for the 6th consecutive year, given robust demand and the 300mm ramp which led to an overall strong 2007 for the silicon industry. SEMI predicted then that those drivers would fundamentally remain in place for 2008.

Quarterly Silicon Area Shipment Trends (Semiconductor Silicon Shipments in Millions of Square Inches)