In 2009, Siltronic’s sales were significantly down on the prior year. This was mainly due to not only weak semiconductor-sector demand for silicon wafers, but also lower sales of silicon monocrystals and other materials to the solar industry. Divisional sales fell 53.2% to €637.5 million (2008: €1.36 billion). Continued price pressure for all wafer diameters additionally impacted Siltronic’s business.
Semiconductor-Industry Demand Fell in 2009
EBITDA amounted to €-162.4 million in 2009 (2008: €357.3 million). Siltronic’s EBITDA margin was -25.5% (2008: 26.3%). As announced in early July 2009, Siltronic has introduced a lead site strategy to optimize production and make it more flexible. This strategy is complemented by numerous other measures to boost productivity and to cut and adjust costs. Siltronic is pushing ahead with customer qualification of the wafers produced at its designated lead sites, so that it can meet customer needs from these locations in the future.
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Key Data: SILTRONIC |
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€ million |
2009 |
2008 |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 | |||||
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Total sales |
637.5 |
1,360.8 |
1,451.6 |
1,263.1 |
925.0 | |||||
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EBITDA |
-162.4 |
357.3 |
478.1 |
355.6 |
166.7 | |||||
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-414.7 |
193.8 |
337.2 |
213.1 |
5.8 | ||||||
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Capital expenditures |
73.0 |
199.6 |
200.0 |
167.7 |
68.0 | |||||
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R&D expenses |
62.9 |
67.7 |
63.9 |
63.2 |
65.4 | |||||
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Employees (December 31, number) |
5,096 |
5,469 |
5,634 |
5,585 |
5,631 |
In regional terms, Asia (including Japan) remains Siltronic’s main sales market. Given Asia’s significance, Siltronic is continuing to expand production capacities there. 300 mm wafer production at Siltronic Samsung Wafer (its joint venture with Samsung Electronics in Singapore) has now reached a monthly capacity of around 200,000 wafers.
During 2009, Siltronic invested €73.0 million (2008: €199.6 million). Funds were almost exclusively earmarked for technology-driven projects, including the capability to manufacture wafers that are used for semiconductor devices featuring smaller design rules.
Siltronic had 5,096 employees on December 31, 2009 (December 31, 2008: 5,469).