Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments hit 1,486 mln square inches in Q4 2004, down 9% from Q3 2004 but up 7% from Q4 2003, according to the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group. Silicon wafer area shipments totaled 6,262 mln square inches in 2004, up 22% from the 5,149 mln square inches shipped during 2003. Revenues grew to $7.3 bln from $5.8 bln posted in 2003.