据美国《化学市场报》报道，到２００３年，全球电子化工和电子材料市场规模预计年均增长８．２％，可达到６２０亿美元。其中硅晶片的销售将年均增长６．２％，另一种半导体晶体砷化镓的销售将年均增长１３．９％，在２００３年达到９亿美元以上。蓝宝石的销售将年均增长３０ According to the U.S. “Chemical Market News” reported that by 2003, the global market for electronic chemical and electronic materials is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 8.2% to reach 62 billion U.S. dollars. Sales of silicon wafers will grow at an average annual rate of 6.2%. Sales of another semiconductor crystal, gallium arsenide, will grow at an average annual rate of 13.9%, reaching over 900 million U.S. dollars in 2003. Sapphire sales will grow at an average annual rate of 30%