Fueled by pent-up demand for automotive electronics caused by semiconductor supply chain disruptions, worldwide installed capacity for power and compound semiconductor fabs is projected to top 10 million wafers per month (WPM) for the first time in 2023, growing to 10.24 million WPM (in 200mm equivalents) and climbing to 10.6 million WPM in 2024, according to SEMI.

China is expected to claim the largest share of installed capacity - 33% - by 2023, followed by Japan at 17%, Europe and the Mideast at 16%, and Taiwan at 11%, proportions that are expected to change little as the industry remains on track to add more than 360,000 WPM in 2024, SEMI said.

SEMI expects 63 companies to add more than two million WPM (in 200mm equivalents) from 2021 through 2024. Infineon, Hua Hong Semiconductor, STMicroelectronics and Silan Microelectronics will lead the way, together adding a projected 700,000 WPM.

Installed capacity for the power and compound fab industry grew 5% in 2019 and 3% in 2020 before surging 7% in 2021, SEMI said. Growth is projected to remain strong at 6% in 2022 and 5% in 2023 as the industry tops the 10 million WPM mark.

The industry is also adding production facilities. From 2021 through 2024, 47 high-probability facilities and lines (R&D to high volume, including epitaxial wafers) are expected to go online to bring the industry total to 755, according to SEMI.

By: DocMemory
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