Market Trends of Semiconductor Materials Industry
Consumer Electronics to Hold Significant Market Share
- Consumer electronics play a significant role in driving the growth of the semiconductor materials market. With the increase in demand for smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient devices, the demand for advanced semiconductor materials also rises. The growth of consumer electronics in various regions, supported by increased internet penetration and the expansion of digital economies, has raised the number of available connected devices, including smartwatches, smart electronics appliances, smart home products, laptops, and smartphones. This has raised the demand for semiconductor materials for hardware manufacturing, driving market growth. With the advent of IoT, various end-user industries are increasingly adopting advanced consumer electronic products to enhance their operations.
- According to Cisco, the Internet of Things (IoT) has become a prevalent system by which people, processes, devices, and data connect to the Internet and each other. According to Cisco Systems, there were 4.4 billion mobile M2M connections worldwide in 2023.
- The requirement for electronic makers to extend battery life is fueling the demand for SiC semiconductors. Manufacturers of consumer gadgets are upgrading their products' batteries, driven by consumer desire for low-charging gadgets. The primary consumers of SiC semiconductors in this market are smartphones, wearable devices, and other major consumer electronics.
- The increasing adoption of smart technologies in mobile phones and the rapid introduction of next-generation mobile communications standards, like LTE or 5G, are significant factors driving the demand for semiconductor materials. For instance, in August 2023, the European Investment Bank (EIB) granted Iliad SA a new EUR 300 million loan to finance its 5G network rollout. It was expected to enable Iliad to expand the rollout of its 5G network in France. The EIB's investment priorities include financing digital economy projects, which align with the European Union's objectives of enhancing fixed and mobile ultra-fast connectivity for individuals and businesses.
- The GSMA Mobile Economy Europe 2023 report stated that 5G connectivity and services are expected to generate economic benefits of EUR 153 billion by 2030, increasing the number of connected consumer electronic devices and fueling market growth.
- The growth of fiber optics in the regions would fuel the growth of connected smart devices and raise the demand for semiconductor raw materials. In February 2024, HFCL Limited (HFCL), a technology enterprise and integrated communications product including optical fiber cable (OFC) and solutions provider, announced its strategic expansion into Europe by setting up an OFC manufacturing plant in Poland, supporting the growth of fiber connections in the buildings and raising the demand for connected smart consumer electronic devices.
- Smartphones are among the most significant consumers of semiconductors. The smartphone industry has been very competitive in recent years. The increasing usage of smartphones is anticipated to drive the market. For instance, according to Ericsson, smartphone subscriptions are expected to reach 12 million by 2028, from 4.5 million in the previous years.
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China is Expected to Witness Significant Market Growth
- The semiconductor raw materials market is proliferating in China, with many chip design companies striving for self-reliance amid an escalating US-China technology rivalry. In March 2023, the second phase of the National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund Co, also known as "Big Fund II," invested heavily in semiconductor manufacturing, equipment, and related materials to deal with the US government's containment and suppression.
- The government has played a significant role in molding the country's market. For a couple of years, the Chinese government issued several new related policy measures to boost the development of its semiconductor industry. The Chinese government's "Made in China 2025" initiative aims to make its semiconductor industry reach USD 305 billion in terms of output by 2030 and meet 80% of the domestic demand. The budget of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIP) targeted 2 million registrations annually by 2023, which was expected to revitalize the market.
- With the launch of 5G services in the country, the demand for smartphones, among other things, has been increasing. GSMA predicts that 5G will overtake 4G in 2024 to become the dominant mobile technology in China. The dominance of 4G and 5G in China suggests that legacy networks are being phased out. While most users have migrated to 4G and 5G, legacy networks continue to support various IoT services. However, GSMA estimates suggest legacy networks could be almost entirely shut down in China by 2025. The push toward 5G will likely propel the adoption of advanced consumer electronics and telecommunication products. This is anticipated to drive the market.
- The growth in wearable electronic devices has led to the adoption of new miniaturized chips, propelling the market’s growth and increasing the demand for wafers. According to Ericsson, smartphone mobile network subscriptions are expected to reach approximately 7.8 billion by 2028.
- China's automotive sector has been increasing, and the country plays an increasingly important role in the global automotive market. The Chinese government positions the automobile industry, including the auto parts industry, as one of its key industries. According to the government, China's car production will reach 35 million vehicles by 2025.
- Manufacturing serves as a significant industry in Asia-Pacific. China’s economy, being a significant contributor, is undergoing a rapid transformation with the rise in labor costs and the conventional model of migrant workers losing its sustainability. Such trends have pushed the economy to adopt automation as a part of the manufacturing processes. As per the 13th Five-year Plan of Smart Manufacturing, China aims to mainstream its intelligent manufacturing system and industry transformation by 2025. The plan, released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and seven other departments, came as countries like the United States, Germany, and Japan pushed to increase intelligent manufacturing. According to the plan, more than 70% of large-scale Chinese enterprises would be digitalized by 2025, and over-demonstration manufacturing facilities would be built nationwide. The plan also involves strengthening research on critical technologies such as artificial intelligence, 5G, IoT, big data, and edge computing. Such initiatives would offer significant momentum to the growth of the market.
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