The 2026 global silicon carbide (SiC) market is estimated at about $5.29 billion, and it is projected to expand at a 10.7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to roughly $8.79 billion by 2031 (per Mordor Intelligence). Demand is driven by electronics and semiconductors and by EV power devices, while on the supply side, oversupply from China's six-inch wafer capacity build-out is pressuring substrate and wafer prices. From a procurement standpoint, understanding the grade-by-grade price ladder and the structure of China's supply clusters is essential.
Market Size and Growth
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| 2026 market size | ~$5.29 billion |
| 2031 projection | ~$8.79 billion |
| CAGR (2026–2031) | 10.7% |
Growth runs on two axes. By application, electronics and semiconductors hold the largest share at 34.7%, while the automotive segment (SiC power devices for EVs) grows fastest at a 12.7% CAGR. With higher voltage, temperature, and efficiency than silicon, SiC power devices are seeing expanding adoption in EV inverters.
Regional Landscape: Asia-Pacific Lead, China Expansion
As of 2025, Asia-Pacific held 52.9% of total revenue. China sits at the center of that regional lead, aggressively expanding new production lines, with six-inch SiC wafer capacity build-out especially prominent. That expansion is translating into oversupply and downward pressure on substrate and wafer prices.
Grade-by-Grade Price Ladder
SiC powders and materials span a very wide price range depending on purity, morphology, and application. When evaluating a procurement quote, first check where it sits on this ladder to filter out grade mismatches.
| Grade | Rough price | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Abrasive-grade fines | $2–3/kg | Abrasives |
| Sub-micron for sintering | $4–8/kg | Sinter forming |
| RTP granule (spray-dried) | $5–15/kg | Press-sinter forming |
| High-purity for semiconductor ingots (4N–6N) | $12–48/kg | Wafers and ingots |
Bulk SiC (abrasive and refractory grade) ran at a Chinese FOB of about $2,865/MT (~$2.9/kg) as of May 2026 and was stable in Q1 2026. The detailed distinction of morphology and application between grades is covered in Two faces of round SiC powder: granule vs spheroidized.
Structure of China's Supply Clusters
China's SiC supply chain is geographically split between smelting and processing. Understanding this structure makes it easier to gauge lead times and negotiating room.
- Smelting clusters (Ningxia, Gansu, Sichuan): regions that smelt SiC lumps on the strength of low electricity costs. SiC smelting is power-intensive, so electricity price governs cost competitiveness.
- Processing clusters (Shandong, Henan): regions where the milling and granulation of smelted SiC is concentrated. Downstream steps such as fine milling and spray-dry granulation happen here.
Because smelting and processing are separated this way, a final quote carries margins and logistics from two stages. When procuring, be clear about which stage of supplier you are dealing with.
Regulatory Risk: SiC Is Not Controlled
An important fact for procurement risk is that SiC is not subject to China's export controls as of July 2026. Unlike scandium and other medium and heavy rare earths that are under a licensing regime, SiC — a general-purpose ceramic material — is not on the control list. On the Korean side, there are no anti-dumping or other import restrictions on SiC (as of July 2026). Item-by-item confirmation is still needed, and the full timeline of China's export controls is laid out in China materials export control timeline. For Korean import practice, see the SiC powder Korea import guide.
Procurement Takeaways for 2026
- Use the oversupply window: oversupply from China's six-inch wafer build-out creates negotiating room in substrate and wafer procurement. Bulk and sintering-grade powders follow different price dynamics, however, so approach them by grade.
- Verify against the grade ladder: if a quote falls far off the price ladder, suspect a grade mismatch or quality variance.
- Preserve the advantage of a non-controlled item: because SiC is not controlled, it offers far more procurement flexibility than scandium. The trade-off is managing quality variance under oversupply.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the SiC market in 2026?
Per Mordor Intelligence, about $5.29 billion in 2026, projected to grow at a 10.7% CAGR to roughly $8.79 billion by 2031. Electronics and semiconductors are the largest application at 34.7%, while automotive (EV power devices) grows fastest at a 12.7% CAGR.
How does China's SiC wafer expansion affect prices?
China's aggressive six-inch wafer build-out is translating into oversupply and downward pressure on substrate and wafer prices. Bulk and sintering-grade powders follow different price dynamics, so they should be assessed by grade.
Is SiC subject to China's export controls?
No. As of July 2026, SiC is not subject to China's export controls, and there are no Korean import restrictions such as anti-dumping. Item-by-item confirmation is still needed.
What are SiC powder prices by grade?
Abrasive-grade fines $2–3/kg, sub-micron for sintering $4–8/kg, RTP granules $5–15/kg, and high-purity for semiconductor ingots (4N–6N) $12–48/kg. Bulk SiC was at a Chinese FOB of about $2.9/kg as of May 2026.
References (Public Sources)
- Mordor Intelligence, global SiC market size and growth report
- Market data on Chinese FOB bulk SiC prices (May 2026)
Nami Tech Solution (NTS) is a Korea-based trading company specializing in global sourcing of semiconductor and energy materials. Reflecting the grade-by-grade price ladder and the structure of China's smelting and processing clusters, NTS sources the right SiC grade for your application at competitive terms and verifies quality at the lot level.
If you need a SiC procurement strategy or price benchmarking, contact us at [email protected] or use our contact page.