By Kate Yuan

(JW Insights) Oct 25 -- Chinese SiC wafers production capacity will capture about 50% of the global market by 2024 as China's compound semiconductor industry has made breakthroughs since 2023, especially in SiC growth, industry insiders predicted.

Chinese companies are making efforts to ramp up the production capacity of SiC wafers. SICC (天岳先进), TanKeBlue Semiconductor (天科合达), and Sanan Optoelectronics (三安光电) have invested heavily in expanding their production capacity, currently producing approximately 60,000 SiC wafers per month. It is estimated that the number will reach 120,000 wafers in 2024, with an annual capacity of 1.5 million wafers.

SICC and TanKeBlue previously held a combined global market share of 5%, while the four leading SiC giants worldwide had much larger shares. Wolfspeed accounted for 60%, Coherent 15%, Rohm Electronics 13%, and SK Siltron 5%, according to industry sources and market research institutions.

Industry experts noted that many overseas research institutions previously doubted the manufacturing capabilities of Chinese companies. However, the recent signing of SiC contracts between companies like Bosch, STMicroelectronics, and Infineon with Chinese companies serves as compelling evidence of China's rapid ascent in the global supply chain.

Analysts suggest that the current global market primarily uses 150mm SiC wafers, and it is expected that product prices will significantly decline with the expansion of manufacturers' production by 2024. This will pose challenges to manufacturers with weaker competitiveness.