Feb. 6, 2023 /SemiMedia/ -- According to reports, the spot price of silicon wafers fell for the first time in the past three years, including 6-inch, 8-inch and 12-inch wafers. Manufacturers said that the backlog of silicon wafer inventory will take time to digest.
German silicon wafer manufacturer Siltronic said that current customer demand for silicon wafers is still strong, but the slowdown in the end market may drag down its performance in 2023. Infineon, one of Siltronics' largest customers, said it saw significantly weaker demand in areas such as smartphones, personal computers and data centers.
The report pointed out that the spot price of 6-inch silicon wafers, which has the weakest demand, has dropped by a single-digit percentage this quarter; as for 8-inch silicon wafers, there are some items whose spot prices have dropped slightly, and some have risen slightly due to continued short supply. Items; the spot price of 12-inch silicon wafers remains stable, but customers have requested price cuts.
Silicon wafer manufacturers revealed that in the fourth quarter of last year, the capacity utilization rate of customers dropped significantly. Now that the customer's inventory accumulation is severe, inventory adjustment is bound to be carried out.
