Global demand for sapphire for use in LED and optical applications (such as smartphone covers) will reach 80.084 million mm of 2-inch equivalent ingots in 2014 and increase 36.1% to 108.902 million mm in 2015, according to Digitimes Research.
The demand in 2015 will consist of 82.698 million mm for LEDs and 26.204 million mm for optical use, rising 22.3% and 110.6% on year respectively, Digitimes Research indicated.
In terms of wafer size, 4-inch models will see the largest demand at 10.66 million units in 2014 and 13.985 million units in 2015, accounting for 56.7% and 60.9% of total demand from LED production in the respective years.
There will be tight global supply of 4-inch sapphire ingots and PSS (patterned sapphire substrates) in 2014.
This article is an excerpt from a Digitimes Research Special Report (Demand and supply trends in the global sapphire industry, 2014-2015). Visit our latest Special reports.