The SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) reported that worldwide silicon wafer shipments increased 13.4% year-on-year to 3,756 million square inches (MSI) in Q3 2026, up from 3,313 MSI in Q3 2025. This growth reflects strong AI-related demand and improving industrial demand. Shipments rose 5.1% quarter-over-quarter from 3,573 MSI in Q2 2026.
Masatsugu Miura, Chairman of SEMI SMG and General Manager of Sales & Marketing Division at SUMCO Corporation, highlighted that AI demand expanded beyond advanced logic and memory into power devices and photonics. Industrial demand was further supported by robotics, AI server power supplies, and general-purpose industrial semiconductors. Bonding and advanced packaging applications also continued to drive demand for 300 mm polished wafers.
Silicon wafers serve as the fundamental substrate for most semiconductors.
Source: TechPowerUp News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing