Global Wafer is expanding its compound semiconductor layout. 6-inch silicon carbide (SiC) substrates have been supplied to major European automotive semiconductor manufacturers such as STMicroelectronics. With stronger customer demand than expected, production capacity is expected to triple next year.
Wafer chairman Xu Xiulan revealed that the simultaneous expansion of GaN (gallium nitride) and SiC (silicon carbide) next year will double the production capacity, and will expand the SiC epitaxy capacity in the United States. The newly expanded capacity has been ordered by customers. Light.
At present, the monthly capacity of 6-inch SiC substrates for wafers is about 2,000, and some customers have begun to ship. It is reported that due to strong customer demand, the production capacity of 6-inch SiC substrates next year will not only "double", but will show "multiple growth." It is expected to be expanded to 5,000 pieces, and there is a chance to further increase to 8,000 pieces.
Xu Xiulan has previously revealed that the demand for SiC is stronger than expected, the development speed needs to be faster, and the scale must be larger. Therefore, it is continuing to accelerate the production capacity expansion and sample delivery process, and is optimistic about the demand for electric vehicles and the ban on sales of internal combustion engines in various countries. , Capacity expansion is fast, and the annual compound growth rate (CAGR) of annual output value will be very large.
At present, the world's leading supplier of SiC substrates is Wolfspeed, which has a market share of 60%, followed by Rohm Semiconductor and II-VI, with a total market share of about 35%, which is equivalent to the top three manufacturers accounting for 95% of the world's SiC Substrate capacity.
With the outbreak of the electric vehicle market, there is a strong demand for third-generation semiconductor materials with high-frequency, high-power, high-voltage, and high-temperature characteristics. However, the current global annual production capacity of SiC wafers is only about 400,000 to 600,000 pieces, and the mainstream size is 6 inches. , The number of chips that can be manufactured per wafer is not large, and it is still far from meeting the needs of the terminal.
Regarding the development of the semiconductor industry, Xu Xiulan said that even if a large number of silicon wafer production capacity is opened in 2024, the demand will still exceed the supply, and the market supply and demand will still be very balanced and healthy. In addition, the current order visibility of Global Crystal will be no problem until 2024, which is equal to visibility. Extend for one year.
Xu Xiulan pointed out that the overall semiconductor demand next year can be assured, and the growth rate next year is expected to be greater than this year, including the third-generation compound semiconductors. Currently, Global Crystal’s current order visibility will not be problematic until 2024. As for compound semiconductors, the future Although its growth momentum is faster than that of the first and second-generation semiconductors, it is still difficult to reach 10% of the overall semiconductor ratio because it is the initial stage of the new field and it is hoped to produce within 5 years.
It is reported that the long-term contract for wafers fell in about 2-3 years in 2018, and this year's long-term contract for Global Crystal has been as long as 5-8 years, which shows that the proportion of customers actively requesting to sign long-term contracts has continued to increase.
Xu Xiulan emphasized that the small number of expansions in the industry will be launched in the second half of 2023, and the largest volume will be launched in early 2024. The demand for silicon wafers in the semiconductor factories that have been announced currently under construction is greater than that of the silicon wafers already under construction. Round production capacity, so even if the silicon wafer production capacity is fully opened in 2024, the market supply and demand will still be balanced and healthy.