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August 3, 2026 -
Global silicon wafer shipments continued their recovery in the second quarter of 2026, with demand from AI applications helping to offset weaker consumer electronics markets. New figures from SEMI show both year-on-year and sequential growth, highlighting continued investment across the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain.
For eeNews Europe readers, the latest shipment data provides another indicator of where semiconductor demand is heading. The figures suggest that AI infrastructure investment is spreading beyond leading-edge processors into a wider range of semiconductor technologies, while industrial and automotive markets are also beginning to regain momentum.
According to the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG), worldwide silicon wafer shipments reached 3,573 million square inches (MSI) in the second quarter of 2026. That represents a 7.4% increase from the 3,327 MSI shipped in the same quarter last year and a 9.1% rise compared with the first quarter of 2026, when shipments totaled 3,275 MSI.
The growth reflects continued expansion across the semiconductor industry as manufacturers add production capacity to meet demand for AI-related devices. While advanced logic and memory remain major drivers, the latest figures suggest AI is also boosting demand for components such as power semiconductors and photonic devices.
“Silicon wafer shipments maintained steady growth in the second quarter, driven by strong and increasing AI-related demand beyond advanced logic and memory to include power devices, photonics, and other markets,” said Ginji Yada, Chairman of SEMI SMG and Managing Executive Officer, General Manager, Sales and Marketing Division at SUMCO Corporation. “In addition, industrial and automotive demand is recovering, while memory price pressures are contributing to constrained PC and smartphone demand. Device manufacturers are investing heavily in capacity expansion, and silicon wafer demand growth is expected to continue.”
The latest shipment figures also point to improving conditions in industrial and automotive electronics, two sectors that have experienced uneven demand over the past year. At the same time, SEMI notes that pressure on memory pricing continues to weigh on demand for PCs and smartphones, limiting growth in those consumer markets.