Silicon on Insulator (SOI) Market worth $2.2 billion by 2025

Wednesday 15 July 2020, Amsterdam

According to the new market research report on the "Silicon on Insulator (SOI) Market by Wafer Size (200 mm and less than 200 mm, 300 mm), Wafer Type (RF-SOI, FD-SOI), Technology (Smart Cut, Layer Transfer), Product (RF FEM, MEMS), Application (Consumer Electronics, Automotive) - Global Forecast to 2025", The global silicon on insulator (SOI) market size is projected to grow from USD 1.0 billion in 2020 to USD 2.2 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 15.7% from 2020 to 2025. The improved performance offered and low operating voltage required by SOI wafers, growing use of SOI wafers in consumer electronics, and increase in investments by wafer manufacturers and foundry players in the SOI ecosystem are factors driving the growth of the SOI market across the globe.

The RF-SOI wafer type segment led the SOI market in 2019.
The RF-SOI wafer type segment accounted for the largest share of the SOI market in 2019. The growth of this segment can be attributed to the wide acceptance of RF-SOI in advanced Long-term Evolution (LTE) smartphones. Almost all smartphones use RF-SOI wafers in their RF Front-end Modules (FEMs) and antenna switches. Leading players offering RF-SOI include Soitec (France), Shin-Etsu Chemical (Japan), GlobalWafers Co., Ltd. (Taiwan), and Simgui (China).

Moreover, foundry players are also launching new wafers based on RF-SOI in the market. For instance, in September 2018, GlobalFoundries (US) started the production of its mobile-optimized 8SW 300 mm based on the RF-SOI technology platform. 300 mm RF-SOI is used in FEM applications, including 5G, IoT, and wireless communication.

The smart cut technology segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the SOI market in 2020.
The smart cut technology segment is expected to lead the SOI market during the forecast period. Smart cut technology is a proprietary technology of Soitec (France) and is used for wafer bonding and layer splitting. Soitec offers this technology to most of its wafer manufacturing partners, including Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. (Japan), and Simgui (China). Smart cut technology enables wafer manufacturers to transfer a thin layer of crystalline material from one substrate to another. Moreover, this technology is more flexible as compared to other technologies. It offers high uniformity and excellent bonding interface in wafers and controls their thickness variability.

Europe is estimated to account for the largest share of the SOI market in 2020.
Europe is expected to lead the SOI market in 2020. The market in Europe is projected to experience increased traction during the forecast period due to the presence of several leading players such as Soitec (France) and STMicroelectronics N.V. (Switzerland) in this region. Moreover, it is also a hub for automotive players. Ongoing technological advancements in its automotive sector are expected to increase the demand for SOI wafer-based products in the region, thereby fueling the growth of the SOI market in Europe.

Soitec (France), Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd (Japan), GlobalWafers Co., Ltd. (Taiwan), SUMCO (Japan), Simgui (China), GlobalFoundries (US), STMicroelectronics N.V. (Switzerland), TowerJazz (Israel), NXP Semiconductors N.V. (Netherlands), Murata Manufacturing (Japan), Skyworks Solutions (US), Qorvo (US), Sony Corporation (Japan), MagnaChip Semiconductor (South Korea), United Microelectronics Corporation (Taiwan), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (Taiwan), Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (US), Silicon Valley Microelectronics (SVM), Inc. (US), EV Group (US), Ultrasil LLC (US), Siltronix Silicon Technologies (France), and WaferPro (US) are some of the major companies operating in the SOI market.