Market Overview - The global semiconductor wafer market is projected to reach approximately $11.5 billion in sales in 2024, with a shipment area of 12,266 million square inches, reflecting a year-on-year decline of 2.7%, marking a recent low [2][3] - The domestic semiconductor wafer market in China is expected to be around 15 billion yuan in 2024, with significant growth in 300mm wafer shipments, particularly from companies like Shanghai Xinsheng, which saw over 70% year-on-year growth [2][3] Industry Trends - By 2027, the demand for silicon wafers is anticipated to grow robustly due to increasing needs related to artificial intelligence and advanced processes, with domestic companies like SMIC and Huahong Group planning clear capacity expansions [3][4] - The 300mm wafer segment is expected to dominate, with global sales projected at around $8.5 billion in 2024, accounting for over 70% of the market, and a domestic market size of approximately 7.5 billion yuan, with a growth rate exceeding 50% [4][5] Pricing Dynamics - In 2024, the pricing of semiconductor wafers is expected to show a divergence, with 300mm wafers remaining stable due to demand from AI and storage chips, while prices for 200mm and smaller wafers are under pressure, with 200mm epitaxial wafer prices dropping over 15% [5][6] - Major players like Shin-Etsu Chemical and SUMCO are controlling production to maintain high margins, while domestic companies are aggressively expanding capacity and pricing their products 10%-15% lower than international competitors [7][8] Financial Performance - In 2024, the total revenue of listed companies in the silicon wafer industry is projected to be approximately 13.453 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 10.58%, with an average gross margin of about 21.14% [10][11] - TCL Zhonghuan and Huahong Group are leading in revenue, with TCL Zhonghuan generating 4.687 billion yuan and Huahong Group 3.388 billion yuan [11] Stock Market Performance - The silicon wafer industry experienced a turbulent stock market in 2024, with an overall decline of 25.13% by year-end compared to the beginning of the year, and a maximum drawdown of 41.51% [14][16] - Huahong Group was the only company to see a slight increase in market value, while TCL Zhonghuan and Shen Gong Co. faced significant declines of 41.41% and 33.55%, respectively [16][17]