PUBLISHER: Mordor Intelligence | PRODUCT CODE: 1911493
PUBLISHER: Mordor Intelligence | PRODUCT CODE: 1911493
The RF and microwave diodes market is expected to grow from USD 2.03 billion in 2025 to USD 2.1 billion in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 2.48 billion by 2031 at 3.39% CAGR over 2026-2031.

This market size growth reflects steady momentum from 5G base-station roll-outs, expanding automotive radar programs, and heightened demand for space-qualified components in LEO satellite constellations. Telecommunications infrastructure upgrades continue to drive bulk procurement, while the automotive sector accelerates diode consumption for mandatory advanced driver-assistance systems. Material substitution toward gallium nitride, tighter export-control enforcement, and proactive capacity additions by leading suppliers shape competitive positioning in the current period.
Massive MIMO base-stations, fronthaul links, and handset RF front-ends collectively lift diode demand. Microwave backhaul already supports more than half of worldwide cell-site connections and requires throughput upgrades above 10 Gbps as 5G traffic scales. GaN-based diodes deliver 34% power-added efficiency in N78 and N77 bands, yet thermal constraints intensify at reduced 3.4 V supply rails. Component makers are responding with low-parasitic packaging that maintains linearity across wide bandwidths. Spectrum re-farming toward 26-28 GHz further increases the volume of mmWave-class diodes needed in phased-array modules.
Global connected-device counts are set to exceed 25 billion by 2025, feeding sustained orders for small-signal diodes in battery-powered wearables, smart meters, and edge sensors. Designers require ultra-low-leakage switches and envelope-tracking circuits to meet stringent power-budget targets. Multi-protocol devices combining 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth Low Energy have spurred the adoption of integrated diode arrays that consolidate bill-of-materials while shrinking form factors. Automotive wireless battery-management systems provide a visible use case where low-loss RF paths enable real-time voltage monitoring over BLE links.
Beijing's export-licensing requirements on gallium and germanium lifted spot prices, pushing GaN epi-wafer costs upward by triple digits. The United States sources 95% of gallium from China, creating procurement risk for high-electron-mobility transistor wafers that underpin many microwave diodes. Manufacturers react by dual-sourcing, recycling scrap, and increasing long-term contracts, yet near-term volatility still compresses gross margins.
Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:
For complete list of drivers and restraints, kindly check the Table Of Contents.
PIN variants accounted for 28.75% of the RF and microwave diodes market share in 2025, anchored by their role in RF switching matrices and variable attenuators. Telecommunications OEMs value their robust power-handling capability and wide dynamic-range linearity, attributes critical for base-station upgrades. Defense radar retrofits and satellite transponders also lock in long-lifecycle design wins that stabilize volume demand. The RF and microwave diodes market size for Schottky devices is projected to expand at 5.12% CAGR, reflecting mmWave circuit migration that favors their low forward voltage and fast recovery properties. Emerging 60-90 GHz automotive imaging radar and 77 GHz short-range modules continue to displace PIN solutions in detector chains, reinforcing Schottky-unit momentum.
Designers maintain varactor adoption for frequency synthesis in VCOs because hyperabrupt junction profiles afford tuning ratios exceeding 8:1. Gunn and tunnel diodes remain niche, yet specialized high-power instrumentation and very-low-phase-noise oscillators preserve consistent demand. Zener regulation diodes capture share in bias networks for high-power GaN MMICs, especially where precise over-voltage protection is mandatory.
The 3-8 GHz class retained 31.85% revenue in 2025, driven by radar altimeters, satellite downlinks, and 5 GHz Wi-Fi access points. Solid installed bases in civil aviation and maritime radar extend product lifetime and underpin after-market diode sales. However, above-40 GHz mmWave demand grows at a 5.42% CAGR as operators commercialize fixed-wireless access and automotive OEMs transition from traditional 24 GHz to 77 GHz radar platforms. The RF and microwave diodes market size contribution from the Ka/V-band (20-40 GHz) segment rises with LEO feeder-links and airborne satcom installations that require narrow beamwidth antennas. Up-to-3 GHz devices keep supplying high-volume IoT modules where cost outweighs performance. Ku/K-band diodes slated for 12-18 GHz remain steady, buoyed by defense seeker upgrades and moderate growth in broadcast satcom ground terminals.
The RF and Microwave Diodes Report is Segmented by Product Type (PIN Diodes, Schottky Diodes, and More), Frequency Band (Up To 3 GHz, 3-8 GHz C-/X-Band, and More), Material Technology (Silicon, Gallium Arsenide, and More), End-User Industry (Automotive, Consumer Electronics, and More), and Geography (North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and More). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).
Asia-Pacific held 44.25% of 2025 revenue and is projected to grow at 4.51% CAGR to 2031, supported by China's USD 295 billion domestic semiconductor initiative and Japan's JPY 3.9 trillion (USD 26 billion) revival program that anchors next-generation wafer capacity. Government incentives accelerate build-outs in epi-growth, wafer-level packaging, and RF front-end module assembly. The vibrant contract-manufacturing base in Taiwan and South Korea augments scale advantages that sustain regional leadership.
North America benefits from the USD 39 billion CHIPS Act, which subsidizes new 200 mm and 300 mm fabs dedicated to RF power and analog devices. Clean-room expansions by MACOM in Massachusetts and North Carolina will reinforce domestic GaN-on-SiC supply and mitigate geopolitical supply risk. Export-control tightening restricts high-frequency device transfers, channeling government and defense demand toward U.S. suppliers. Canada and Mexico contribute niche assembly and test capacity, leveraging USMCA rules of origin to serve automotive clients.
Europe enjoys steady diode consumption through automotive radar mandates and Industry 4.0 factory upgrades. Germany's tier-1 OEMs employ 77 GHz radar in premium and mass-market models, propelling continental demand. France and the United Kingdom support aerospace and satellite programs that specify radiation-hardened diodes. Meanwhile, Middle East and African operators deploy 5G fixed-wireless access in underserved rural areas, but macroeconomic headwinds keep near-term volumes modest.