Group 1 - The global semiconductor silicon wafer market is currently experiencing an oversupply of approximately 5% to 10% [1] - Demand for 12-inch wafers remains resilient with a capacity utilization rate exceeding 95%, while 8-inch and 6-inch wafers show significant weakness with utilization rates below 80% and 70% respectively [1][2] - The overall silicon wafer market is characterized by "structural prosperity" rather than a "full recovery," with advanced processes driven by AI servers and GPUs maintaining high demand, while traditional consumer electronics chip demand remains weak [2][6] Group 2 - Shin-Etsu Chemical reported a 22% year-on-year decline in revenue for the first half of the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, with net profit down 12% [6] - The demand for 300mm wafers related to AI applications is recovering, while 200mm wafer demand remains weak, particularly in automotive applications [6][7] - The share of AI semiconductors in 300mm wafer shipments is currently below 10%, indicating significant growth potential in this area [7] Group 3 - The 12-inch silicon wafer has become the mainstream specification in the industry, accounting for over 70% of global shipments in 2023, with monthly demand expected to exceed 10 million pieces by 2026 [12][13] - The production process of silicon wafers includes multiple steps, and larger diameter wafers yield more chips per unit area, reducing average manufacturing costs [11][12] - The global market for 12-inch wafers is highly concentrated, with five major companies controlling over 85% of the market share [14][15] Group 4 - Domestic manufacturers in China are beginning to establish a competitive landscape in the 12-inch wafer market, with significant investments and capacity expansions underway [19][20] - Major domestic players include Xi'an Yiswei Materials, Shanghai Xinsheng, and others, collectively holding a significant share of the domestic market [20][21] - The domestic 12-inch wafer production capacity is expected to grow significantly, potentially meeting 40% of China's demand by 2026 [21][24] Group 5 - The SiC wafer market is currently experiencing low utilization rates below 50%, but signs of recovery are anticipated by 2026 [25][26] - In contrast, GaN wafers are seeing rapid growth driven by high-frequency applications, with the global market expected to exceed $6.5 billion by 2025 [28][29] - The industry is undergoing a period of rational expansion and technological depth, indicating a potential "cooling period" for the semiconductor industry [30]

Core Viewpoint - The semiconductor industry remains vibrant under the influence of AI, but the upstream wafer manufacturing materials segment is showing signs of oversupply, particularly in the 200mm and 300mm wafer markets, indicating a structural demand shift rather than a full recovery [2][5][6]. Group 1: Market Conditions - The global silicon wafer market is experiencing a supply surplus of approximately 5% to 10%, with 12-inch wafer demand remaining resilient, while 8-inch and 6-inch wafer utilization rates have dropped below 80% and 70%, respectively [2]. - The overall silicon wafer shipment is projected to grow by 3.1% year-on-year in Q3 2025, reaching 3.313 billion square inches, although it shows a 0.4% decline compared to the previous quarter [2]. - The demand for 300mm wafers is recovering, while 200mm wafer demand remains weak, with expectations of continued inventory adjustments in the automotive sector [5][6]. Group 2: Company Performance - Shin-Etsu Chemical reported a 22% decline in revenue and a 12% drop in net profit for the first half of the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, indicating pressure on overall profitability due to market conditions [5]. - The company noted that 300mm wafer demand hit a low in Q1 2025 but has been on a recovery path since Q2, with stable orders expected in Q4 2025 [6]. Group 3: Technological Trends - The 12-inch silicon wafer has become the industry standard, accounting for over 70% of global shipments in 2023, with expectations of monthly demand exceeding 10 million pieces by 2026 [10][12]. - The production process for silicon wafers includes multiple stages, and larger wafers yield more chips per unit, leading to lower average manufacturing costs [10][11]. Group 4: Competitive Landscape - The global 12-inch silicon wafer market is highly concentrated, with five major players—Shin-Etsu, SUMCO, GlobalWafers, Siltronic, and SK Siltron—holding over 85% of the market share [13][14]. - Domestic competition in China is emerging, with several companies ramping up production capabilities, although the industry still relies heavily on imports for high-end wafers [18][23]. Group 5: Future Outlook - The demand for silicon wafers is expected to align with the growth of AI applications, with significant room for expansion in the 300mm wafer segment, which currently accounts for less than 10% of AI semiconductor shipments [6][12]. - The domestic silicon wafer production capacity is projected to increase significantly, potentially meeting 40% of China's 12-inch wafer demand by 2026 [21][23].

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].