Silicon wafer prices continued to rise in raw material shortages

According to industry analysts said, the price of silicon wafer production capacity in the past six months on the market and material shortage quietly raised two times, mainly silicon wafer suppliers include MEMC, Siltronic, Sumco and Shin-Etsu Handotai, allegedly increases the price.

Market research firm Sage Concepts Inc. President Rich said that in December last year, the supplier for the first time the price increased by 5 to $6% to $. Recently, the supplier has increased another 5 to 6 percentage points, on the grounds that polysilicon materials and 200mm capacity shortages. "People are worried that they can't get enough material," says 200mm, who is nervous because no one is willing to invest in 200mm production."

At present, silicon wafer manufacturers in the strong market demand is being driven by the expansion of 300mm production capacity. The average selling price of 200mm and 300mm wafers is about $45 and $200, respectively.

Material shortage is the focus of attention. Due to the huge demand for solar energy industry, in the case of sustained shortage of materials, the price is expected to continue to rise next year, polysilicon prices. Solarbuzz LLC revealed that the continued shortage of polysilicon is expected to limit the growth rate of the global solar PV market is expected in 2006 growth rate of only 10%.

Sage Concepts said, overall, according to regional delivery, silicon wafer industry is expected to grow by 5-6%. In terms of turnover, the silicon wafer market will grow by 12-15% in 2006 than in 2005.