Thin Wafer Market - Forecasts from 2023 to 2028

The thin wafer market is estimated to witness a CAGR of 4.03% to grow from US$8.404 billion in 2021 to US$11.085 billion by 2028.

The market for thin wafers is rising due to the increasing demand for smartphones and smart wearable devices coupled with technological innovation in the sector. Rapidly growing urbanization and high disposable income has increased the demand for electronic devices such as smartphones, LEDs, and Smart TV. To meet the growing demand for cutting-edge gadgets, many top consumer electronics companies, including Apple, Samsung, Redmi, and Oneplus, are investing heavily in their development and research efforts. Moreover, increasing demand for other thin devices, such as smart TV with slim bodies, smartwatches, etc., is expected to drive noteworthy demand for thin wafers. Rising investments in R&D activities by various countries are expected to surge the market growth in the coming years.

Rising adoption of photovoltaics and technological development to boost the growth of the market.

The thin wafer market is expected to surge in the coming years due to the rising adoption of photovoltaics. Increasing human carbon footprints have raised serious environmental concerns, due to which there is a high demand for the development of sustainable means of energy production, which includes the adoption of photovoltaics. The thin wafer is the essential raw material that is used to produce solar cells; hence its demand is increasing in the market. For instance, in November 2022, a new photovoltaic material has been created by researchers at the IIT Mandi that may produce electricity when exposed to light from LED or CFL household light sources. This study supports the widespread deployment of loT technology in modern culture. IoT devices are being used more regularly by cell phones, home automation, and other systems that require various forms of real-time data. These devices must be independent, producing electricity of their own without the assistance of power cables. These devices are currently powered by both the main and secondary batteries. Every battery has a finite life expectancy and is neither cost-effective nor environmentally beneficial.

Shifting focus towards LEDs on account of their increasing use in a wide range of applications in the consumer electronics and lighting industry is increasing the demand for efficient semiconductors, which is expected to increase the demand for thin wafers across the industry. Growing focus on the well-being of the environment and implementation of effective energy efficiency programs across various countries has significantly increased the demand for LED in the market. For example- The government of India has initiated the use of bulk procurement of LED lights which will help the country in conserving energy. This, in turn, is driving the adoption of thin wafers for LEDs, thus boosting the demand for efficient LED solutions and increasing the capacity of photovoltaics in commercial/industrial areas. For instance, as per the 2022 report of the International Energy Association, the net capacity of PVs increased from 27 GW in 2021 to 30 GW in 2022, which has led to an increase in the demand for thin wafers in the market.

Further, the introduction of Industry 4.0 and technologies like loT and Al in the automobile industry will have a big impact on the expansion of the thin wafer market. The growing demand for connected vehicles will lead to new technological developments. Additionally, the relevance of linked cars is expanding as a result of current trends like touch-free human-machine interfaces, which are revolutionizing the automotive industry. The advent of new technologies, including adaptive cruise control, intelligent parking assistance systems, and advanced driver assistance systems, will further spur market expansion.

Additionally, governments in both developed and developing countries are making significant investments in the production of thin wafer semiconductors. The growth of semiconductors has also been aided by key players' cooperation and increased R&D expenditures. For instance, the German government has spent close to 3 billion euros reclaiming the locations of semiconductor manufacturing. The IoT and Industry 4.0's increasing need for semiconductors are the driving forces behind this investment, and the production facilities improve access to enough microchips to keep up with the newest trends.

Market Developments:

• According to Argonne National Laboratory data, in March 2023, 93,218 hybrid electric vehicles were sold in the United States, which made up 21.7% of the sales in March 2022, and a total of 100,605 plug-in vehicles were further sold in the United States, accounting for 81,346 BEVs and 19,259 PHEVs.
• According to the data provided by the National Energy Administration, the overall solar capacity of China reached 392.61 GW in 2022, which signified a major increase of 28.1% in comparison to 306.GW was recorded in 2021. Moreover, as per the same source, the country saw an additional installation of 87.41 GW in the same year.

The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to hold the largest share of the market during the forecasted period.

Based on geography, the global thin wafer market is analyzed into Americas, Europe Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. The Asia Pacific region is projected to hold a large share of the market and grow at the fastest rate during the forecasted period. Industrialization in countries such as India, China, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and others, has led to mushrooming of consumer electronic manufacturing units in these countries that will support the market. Furthermore, increased disposable income has surged the penetration of smart devices, particularly smartphones, which also support market prospects. Moreover, favorable climatic conditions have boosted the construction of solar projects, expanding the demand for photovoltaics and hence thin wafers.

Segmentation

By Thickness

• Less than 100 μm
• 100-199 μm
• Greater than 200 μm

By Application

• MEMS
• Memory
• LED
• RF Devices
• Image Sensors
• Others

By Geography

• Americas
• USA
• Others
• Europe
• Germany
• France
• United Kingdom
• Others
• Asia Pacific
• China
• Japan
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Others