KUALA LUMPUR (May 19): Global silicon wafer area shipments rose 3.4% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2015 to 2,637 million square inches from 2,550 million sq inches a year earlier, according to the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) Silicon Manufacturers Group’s (SMG) quarterly analysis.

Silicon wafers are the fundamental building material for semiconductors, which in turn, are vital components of virtually all electronics goods, including computers, telecommunications products, and consumer electronics.

The highly engineered thin round disks are produced in various diameters (from one inch to 12 inches) and serve as the substrate material on which most semiconductor devices or "chips" are fabricated.

In a statement on its website yesterday, SEMI said the 1Q15 silicon wafer shipment was a new quarterly volume shipment record.

It said the new quarterly total area shipments were 11.6% higher than first quarter 2014 shipments.

SEMI SMG and general manager of International Sales & Marketing Department of SUMCO Corporation Ginji Yada said total silicon shipment volumes for the first quarter of this year surpassed the record high reached in the third quarter of last year.

“Silicon shipments for the most recent quarter benefited from the strong market momentum the semiconductor market enjoyed last year,” said Yada.