Silicon Carbide Market - Forecasts from 2024 to 2029

The silicon carbide market is estimated to be around US$1.672 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to grow to US$4.863 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 23.80%

The global silicon carbide (SiC) market is estimated to grow at a higher rate, majorly with the increase in the global demand for consumer electronics equipment. Under the type segment of the silicon carbide market, nitride-bonded silicon carbide is estimated to attain a higher market share. In contrast, the semiconductors category in the application segments will achieve a significant share. The automotive and electronics sector in the industry vertical will grow rapidly as the industry offers a higher application of silicon carbide. The growth of the semiconductor market demand is estimated to increase the global demand in multiple industries like automotive, consumer electronics, and IT & telecommunication. Similarly, the increasing demand for sustainable energy, or the solar energy sector, is also estimated to boost the global silicon carbide market’s growth.

A semiconductor base material made of pure silicon and carbon is known as silicon carbide. Many manufacturers are aggressively developing SiC for use in data centers, solar energy systems, and electric vehicles, among other things. Each of these efficiency-focused systems produces high voltages and high temperatures. There is a major global drive to adopt SiC instead of alternative materials to cut carbon emissions brought on by power inefficiencies at higher voltages, even though solar energy and electric vehicles are leading the way in using SiC.

One of the major driving factors for the silicon carbide market’s growth is estimated to be the expansion of the semiconductor market across multiple industries. Similarly, the growth of the automotive industry and the rising demand and efficiency of the solar industry are also expected to push the silicon carbide market growth globally.

Silicon Carbide Market Drivers:

Expansion in the semiconductor industry eventually boosts SiC demand.

A significant contribution to the electromobility breakthrough and support for digitalization in the industrial sector is made by silicon carbide semiconductors, which help advance the power electronics in batteries and sensors. They are made to be lightweight, strong, and very effective. In several crucial applications, silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors process electricity more effectively than conventional semiconductors.

According to the Semiconductor Industry Association, the total sales of the semiconductor industry were recorded at about US$526.8 billion in 2023. The association further stated that in May 2024, the semiconductors industry's total sales were about US$49.1 billion, an increase of about 19.3% compared to May 2023. The year-to-year sales in the Americas increased about 43.6%, followed by a 24.2% increase in the Chinese market. Wolfspeed, Inc., the industry pioneer in Silicon Carbide technology, formally launched its cutting-edge Mohawk Valley Silicon Carbide fabrication facility in Marcy, New York, in April 2022. By officially opening this new chip fabrication facility, they establish New York as the country's leading semiconductor production center. The semiconductor market’s growth will eventually result in high demand for silicon carbide.

Growth in the automotive industry.

SiC has gained popularity in the automobile industry because of the need for superior quality, dependability, and efficiency. It is adept at meeting high-voltage requirements. By improving the efficiency of the entire system, particularly the inverter system, silicon carbide can potentially extend the range of electric vehicles. This is because it conserves more energy overall for the vehicle and reduces the size and weight of the battery management systems. For instance, a pioneer in developing and producing cutting-edge semiconductor materials, Soitec (Euronext Paris), showed its first 200mm silicon carbide SmartSiC wafer in May 2022. With the release, Soitec can expand its line of SiC products beyond 150mm, advance the research and development of its SmartSiC wafers, and meet the expanding needs of the automobile industry.

Automotive production worldwide has also witnessed a massive increase in the past few years. The International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), in its global production statistics of automotive, stated that in 2021, the total production of automobiles was recorded at about 80.004 million, which increased to about 84.830 million in 2022. The total automotive production in 2023 grew significantly from the past year, recorded at about 93.546 million. The organization stated that the market witnessed a growth of about 17% between 2021 and 2023.

Silicon Carbide Market Geographical Outlook

Asia Pacific is anticipated to hold a significant share of the Silicon Carbide Market.

The Asian Pacific region is estimated to attain a greater market share in the global silicon carbide market, as the region offers an intensively developing technological landscape. The Asian Pacific region is among the biggest global hubs for producing consumer electronics products, which have a higher application of semiconductors and silicon carbide chips. The production and market demand for consumer electronics is further stated to witness a massive increase with the increase in governmental incentives to boost the market in the region. Furthermore, the green or sustainable energy market’s growth, especially the solar energy market, is also estimated to boost the regional silicon carbide market growth, as it offers an increasing global demand for energy and power sectors.

Similarly, the growth of the automotive industry in the region is also estimated to boost the demand for silicon carbide. Countries like India, China, Taiwan, Japan, and Vietnam in the Asia-Pacific region are among the biggest automotive manufacturers in the global market. The governments of multiple countries in the Asia-Pacific region have also introduced multiple programs and incentives to boost the regional automotive market share, boosting the silicon carbide market.

Silicon Carbide Market Products Offered by Key Companies:

• Anyang Jinbeite Metallurgical Refractory Co., Ltd., a global leader in ferroalloy production, offers multiple products, including silicon metal, ferrosilicon, calcium silicon, high-carbon silicon, and silicon carbide.
• Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories (PCR) is among the leading companies that designs, develops, and manufacture high-performing solutions for multiple industries. The company offers multiple products and solutions, like engineered ceramic solutions and refractory solutions, and multiple products and materials. In its material portfolio, the company offers alumina, boron carbide, zirconia, mullite, silicon nitride, and silicon carbide, among others.

Silicon Carbide Market Key Developments:

• In August 2024, Infineon Technologies launched the first phase of a 200mm silicon carbide chip fab in Kulim, Malaysia. With the launch of a new fab, Infineon is estimated to strengthen its market share in the global power semiconductors market. The company has also pledged to invest about US$5.5 billion in Malaysia for the next five years.
• In July 2024, Onsemi, a global corporation, launched EliteSiC M3e MOSFETs, which aim to accelerate the silicon carbide technology platform globally. With the new technology, the company aims to achieve a massive reduction in conduction and switching loss on the field-proved planar architecture. EliteSiC M3e MOSFETs offered by Onsemi also offer one of the lowest specific on-resistance in the industry.
• In September 2022, three silicon carbide (SiC)-based power modules in transfer molded technology were released by Onsemi, a pioneer in intelligent power and sensing technologies, and are designed for use in on-board charging and high voltage (HV) DCDC conversion in all sorts of electric vehicles (EV). The APM32 series is the first of its type and is created exclusively for high-power 11-22kW onboard chargers. It incorporates SiC technology into a transfer molded packaging to increase efficiency and reduce charge time for EVs.

The Silicon Carbide Market is segmented and analyzed as given below:

By Type

• Sintered Silicon Carbide
• Nitride Bonded Silicon Carbide
• Reaction Bonded Silicon Carbide

By Application

• Brakes & Clutches
• Solar Panels
• Turbines
• Semiconductors
• Deoxidizing Agent
• Light Emitting Diodes
• Others

By Industry Vertical

• Automotive
• Energy
• Steel Industry
• Electronics
• Others

By Geography

• North America
• USA
• Canada
• Mexico
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Others
• Europe
• Germany
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Spain
• Others
• Middle East and Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• Israel
• United Arab Emirates
• Others
• Asia Pacific
• China
• Japan
• South Korea
• India
• Australia
• Indonesia
• Thailand
• Taiwan
• Others