Silicon wafer shipments rise in Q2 2026 as AI demand broadens

SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group said worldwide silicon wafer shipments increased 7.4% year-on-year to 3,573 million square inches (MSI), up from 3,327 MSI in the same quarter of 2025. Shipments also rose 9.1% quarter-over-quarter from 3,275 MSI in the first quarter of 2026.

Ginji Yada, chairman of SEMI SMG and managing executive officer, general manager of the sales and marketing division at SUMCO Corporation, said growth was supported by strong and increasing AI-related demand beyond advanced logic and memory, including power devices, photonics and other markets. He also pointed to recovering industrial and automotive demand, while memory price pressures continue to weigh on PC and smartphone demand. Device manufacturers are investing heavily in capacity expansion, and SEMI SMG expects silicon wafer demand growth to continue.