SAN JOSE – Third quarter worldwide silicon wafer area shipments rose sequentially to their highest levels ever, SEMI said.

Total silicon wafer area shipments were 2,489 million sq. in. during the most recent quarter, up 5% from the previous quarter. New quarterly total area shipments are up 26% over third quarter 2009 shipments, a new record. The data do not include shipments for solar applications.

"Silicon shipments continued to experience growth during the most recent quarter,” said Takashi Yamada, chairman of the SEMI task group that compiles the data and general manager of SUMCO. “With the recovery in the semiconductor market, annual wafer shipments will reach a new high in 2010.”

Silicon shipments are considered a leading indicator of future printed circuit board demand.