KUALA LUMPUR (April 3): The global semiconductor materials market grew 10.6% in 2018, and pushed semiconductor materials revenue to US$51.9 billion to eclipse the previous high of US$47.1 billion set in 2011, according the U.S.-based Semiconductor Materials & Equipment International (SEMI).

In a statement on its website April 2, SEMI said the standing record for semiconductor materials revenue fell as the chip market’s record revenue of US$412.2 billion in 2017 also gave way to an all-time high – US$468.8 billion – last year.

It said wafer fabrication materials and packaging materials revenues totaled US$32.2 billion and US$19.7 billion, respectively, in 2018, for year-over-year increases of 15.9% and 3.0% for the two segments.

SEMI said for the ninth consecutive year, Taiwan, at US$11.4 billion, was the largest consumer of semiconductor materials on the strength of its large foundry and advanced packaging base.

It said South Korea rose in the rankings to claim the second spot while China fell to third last year.

The materials markets in South Korea, Europe, Taiwan, and China saw the strongest revenue growth, while the North America, Rest of World and Japan markets experienced single-digit growth.