"There are a number of key domestic suppliers of silicon wafers" in China, said analysts Samuel Ni and Dan Tracy of SEMI (San Jose), in a recent e-mail newsletter.

"The largest silicon producers in China include: Grinm Semiconductor Materials, QL Electronics (formerly known as Haina Semiconductor), MCL, Shanghai Shenhe Thermo-Magnetics Co., WaferWorks and Wanxing Silicon-Peak (SIPEC) Electronics Co. Ltd.," according to the analysts at SEMI.

"While these manufacturers currently focus on 150-mm and smaller diameter wafers, both Grinm and QL Electronics have 200-mm wafer production capability. Grinm has also developed 300-mm wafer production capability," according to the analysts.

Lisa Wong, sales manager of Grinm (Beijing), declined to comment on the company's 300-mm activities and referred all calls to SEMI in China.

On a million square inch (MSI) basis, China silicon consumption increased from about 125 MSI in 2003 to 208 MSI in 2004, or a 66 percent increase, according to SEMI. In comparison, worldwide wafer area shipments increased 22 percent in 2004, it said.

Wafer consumption in China represents just over 3 percent of 2004 worldwide wafer area shipments. SEMI estimates silicon wafer revenues in the China market to be $181 million in 2004.

For wafer diameters 100-mm and smaller in diameter, domestic wafer suppliers support nearly all of the domestic market needs. Wafers sold by domestic suppliers also represented nearly 90 percent of the domestic 125-mm wafer sales in 2004. For 150-mm wafers, however, overseas suppliers had about 60 percent market share of the China market in 2004, according to SEMI.

Indeed, China is putting down roots for a domestic semiconductor and materials industry that could eventually go global, posing a potential threat to competitors and intellectual-property protections.

By: DocMemory
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