June 22, 2021

MEMS Semiconductors Strengthen After Holding Up Well in 2020

Sensors and actuators made with MEMS technology are forecast to grow by high double-digit percentages in the next several years after starting a recovery in 2H20, says new report.

Sales of semiconductor sensors and actuators made with microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology are expected to grow about 16% in 2021 to a record-high $15.9 billion after an 11% increase in 2020 during the economic havoc caused by the Covid-19 virus pandemic and the automotive industry’s worst year in decades, according to IC Insights’ 2021 O-S-D Report—A Market Analysis and Forecast for Optoelectronics, Sensors/Actuators, and Discretes. Recovery growth in MEMS-based sensor/actuator products surged in the second half of 2020 when manufacturers quickly began to refill inventories after seeing signs of stabilization and recovery in key end-use markets, says the 350-page O-S-D Report.

Between 2020 and 2025, sales of MEMS-based sensors and actuators are expected to increase by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.8% to $24.1 billion with shipments rising by a CAGR of 13.4% to 32.1 billion units (Figure 1), based on the O-S-D Report’s five-year forecast.

Figure 1

Around half of the semiconductor sensors and nearly all actuators sold each year contain tiny MEMS transducer structures and circuit functions to perform their jobs in end-use applications.  In 2020, about 83% of sales in the total $16.5 billion sensor/actuator market came from devices built with MEMS technology.  About 55% of the total 30.9 billion sensors and actuators shipped worldwide in 2020 contained MEMS, based on data in the O-S-D Report. Approximately 44% of sales in MEMS-based sensors and actuators are generated annually by automotive applications.

Total sales of MEMS-based pressure sensors, microphone chips, accelerometers, gyroscope devices, and actuators are expected to increase annually by double-digit percentages until 2024, when the next cyclical economic slowdown is expected to cut growth to 4%, followed by a modest 9% rebound in 2025.

Report Details:  The 2021 O-S-D Report

In a one-of-a-kind study, IC Insights continues to expand its coverage of the semiconductor industry with detailed analysis of trends and growth rates in the optoelectronics, sensors/actuators, and discretes market segments in its newly revised 350-page O-S-D Report—A Market Analysis and Forecast for the Optoelectronics, Sensors/Actuators, and Discretes.

Now in its 16th annual edition, the 2021 O-S-D Report contains a detailed forecast of sales, unit shipments, and selling prices for more than 40 individual product types and categories through 2025.  Also included is a review of technology trends for each of the segments.  The 2021 O-S-D Report, with more than 240 charts and figures, is attractively priced at $4,190 for an individual-user license ($995 for each additional user) and $7,290 for a multi-user corporate license.

https://www.icinsights.com/services/osd-report/pricing-order-forms/