Global Silicon EPI Wafer Market Expected to Reach $1.55 Billion by 2026

According to a recent report published by Allied Market Research, titled, "Silicon EPI Wafer Market by Type, Wafer Size, Application, and Industry Vertical: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2026," The global Silicon EPI Wafer market size was valued at $1.15 billion in 2018, and is projected to reach $1.55 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 4.8% from 2019 to 2026.

Silicon EPI wafer is used for interconnecting semiconductor devices such as microscopic devices, micro sensors, microprocessors, and others to external circuitry while utilizing deposited crystalline surface layer over crystalline-based semiconductor substrate. It allows integration of wafer fab, ICs, and burn-in at wafer level to streamline the manufacturing process undertaken by a device.

Major factors propelling the demand for the market are the widely extending applications in rapidly growing technologies such as solar photovoltaic panels, DRAMs, microprocessors, flexible OLED displays, AMOLED displays, and MEMS. Moreover, impending need of circuit miniaturization, high investment by various governments in solar power plants, and technological developments in organic LED displays foster the growth of the silicon EPI wafer market share.

Asia-Pacific has a considerable share in the silicon EPI wafer market trend and is expected to be the fastest growing regional segment in the near future, with the highest CAGR. With an increase in demand for high voltage operating devices, organizations across verticals are realizing the importance of driver IC to ensure power management. In addition, emerging countries such as India, Philippines, and others are expected to offer lucrative opportunities for the growth of the market.

On the basis of silicon EPI wafer market, the homoepitaxy segment generated the highest revenue in 2018, followed by the heteroepitaxy segment. The growth of the 12-inch market is mainly driven by factors such as rise in demand for advanced technology in consumer electronics, infrastructure, automation system, and others across the region. Wide acceptance and usage of semiconductor chips and ICs across North America is due to increase in need for smart technologies and devices. Moreover, rapid developments in the Middle East, in terms of technological developments, and medical facilities fuel the growth of the LAMEA market.

The factors such as increase in demand for epitaxial wafer in consumer electronics, rise in usage of GPS, emerging trends of wafer in automotive industry, and growth in the semiconductor industry boost the growth of the silicon EPI wafer market globally. However, increase in shift from homoepitaxy to heteroepitaxy deposition type that increase the overall cost of wafer manufacturing is expected to hamper the Silicon EPI Wafer Market growth. 

Furthermore, increase in popularity of IoT in wafers, and rise in adoption of smart lighting especially in Korea and China, is expected to offer lucrative Silicon EPI Wafer Market opportunity for the market expansion.

Key Finding of The Silicon Epi Wafer Market:

• By type, the homoepitaxy segment generated the highest revenue in the Silicon EPI Wafer market in 2018.
• By Wafer Size, the 12-inch segment generated the highest revenue in the market in 2018
• By application, the MEMS-based devices segment generated the highest revenue in the market in 2018.
• By Industry Vertical, the consumer electronics segment generated the highest revenue in the market in 2018.
• By region, Asia-Pacific generated the highest revenue in the market in 2018.

The key silicon EPI wafer market leaders profiled in the report include Nichia Corporation, Applied Materials, Sumco Corporation, Epigan, ASM, Global Wafers, Siltronic, Wafer World Inc., Tokyo Electron, and Shin Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd. These key players adopted several strategies such as new product launch and development, acquisition, partnership & collaboration, and business expansion to increase their market share.