Business and Markets

Despite the growth, reclaim suppliers continue to struggle to cost-effectively remove complex materials from wafers in the face of ever-tightening particle specifications, cope with the shortage of feedstock for reclaim, and manage yields from repeatedly reclaimed wafers.

The global semiconductor materials market increased 9.6% while worldwide semiconductor revenues increased 21.6% from the prior year in 2017. Total wafer fabrication materials and packaging materials totaled $27.8B and $19.1B, respectively, in 2017, according to the SEMI Materials Market Data Report.

Semiconductor markets in 2017 far outstripped the average revenue forecast of 5% growth at the start of the year, logging a robust 22% increase for a second consecutive year of record revenues, according to the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS).