Core Insights - The global power semiconductor wafer market is projected to grow significantly, particularly the silicon carbide (SiC) wafer market, which is expected to expand from 143.6 billion yen in 2024 to 619.5 billion yen by 2035, representing an increase of approximately 4.3 times [1] Group 1: SiC Wafer Market - In 2024, the demand for SiC power semiconductors is expected to slow down, but sales volume is projected to increase by 81.9% year-on-year, primarily driven by Chinese wafer manufacturers [1] - The price of 6-inch wafers has decreased due to the influx of cheaper products, with a value increase of only 46.1% compared to the previous year [1] - Sales volume and revenue for 2025 are anticipated to grow by about 20% year-on-year, although the growth rate in revenue may not match that of sales volume due to declining unit prices [1] Group 2: Market Size and Trends - The 6-inch wafer currently accounts for over 90% of sales and is expected to remain the mainstream product, while the demand for 4-inch wafers is declining [2] - The 8-inch wafer market is expected to see significant growth starting in 2026, particularly in countries like China [2] Group 3: Emerging Semiconductor Technologies - The diamond wafer market is projected to take off starting in 2026, with the commercialization of 2-inch wafers expected to accelerate growth, reaching a market size of 4.6 billion yen by 2035 [3] - Aluminum nitride wafers have begun shipping 4-inch samples, with expectations for full-scale production in the future [3] - The germanium wafer is planned for development as a 6-inch epitaxial wafer, with sales expected to begin around 2030 [3] - The silicon wafer market is expected to stabilize from 2025 onwards after a decline in 2024, with growth anticipated for GaN and gallium oxide wafers as 6-inch wafers become more practical [3]

Core Viewpoint - SK Siltron's sales to SK Hynix surpassed those to Samsung Electronics for the first time in Q1 2023, attributed to SK Hynix's success in high bandwidth memory (HBM) and server DRAM, while Samsung faced challenges [1][2]. Group 1: Sales Performance - In Q1 2023, SK Siltron sold wafers worth 124.4 billion KRW to Samsung (Company A) and 128.8 billion KRW to SK Hynix (Company B), marking a 27% decline in sales to Samsung and a 32% increase to SK Hynix compared to the previous year [1]. - This shift is significant as it marks the first time since SK Hynix's acquisition by SK Group in 2017 that sales to SK Hynix exceeded those to Samsung [1]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - The decline in Samsung's sales is attributed to weakened product competitiveness and a reduction in foundry capacity due to poor customer orders, leading to a 50% decrease in capital investment compared to the previous year [2]. - Conversely, SK Hynix has been maximizing production capacity for its 10nm fifth-generation process and has seen strong sales for products like HBM3E, while also investing in new factories [2]. Group 3: SiC Business Challenges - SK Siltron's SiC wafer subsidiary reported Q1 sales of 6.147 billion KRW with an operating loss of 63.4 billion KRW, a significant decline from the previous year's sales of 21.3 billion KRW and an increase in losses from 26.3 billion KRW [3]. - The SiC business, seen as a next-generation power semiconductor opportunity, is facing challenges in technology competitiveness and market conditions, leading to speculation that it may become a liability for SK Group [3].