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, representing a 7.4% increase compared to the 3,327 MSI recorded in Q2 2025. Quarter-over-quarter growth was even more pronounced at 9.1%, up from 3,275 MSI in Q1 2026. The data were published on 29 July 2026 by SEMI as part of its quarterly silicon wafer industry analysis.
Ginji Yada, Chairman of SEMI SMG and Managing Executive Officer at SUMCO Corporation, attributed the growth to sustained AI-related demand that is broadening in scope. According to Yada, AI-driven consumption is no longer confined to advanced logic and memory segments but is increasingly influencing demand for power devices, photonics, and adjacent markets. He also noted that industrial and automotive demand is showing signs of recovery, though memory price pressures continue to constrain PC and smartphone volumes.
Silicon wafers serve as the primary substrate material for semiconductor fabrication. Produced in diameters of up to 300 mm, they are the foundational material for the vast majority of integrated circuits and discrete devices. For electronics manufacturing in Europe, silicon wafer market dynamics have direct implications for component availability, lead times, and ultimately for procurement planning across EMS providers and OEMs.
The reported capacity expansion investments by device manufacturers are consistent with broader industry signals observed throughout 2025 and into 2026, as chipmakers respond to structurally higher demand from AI infrastructure build-outs. For European electronics manufacturers operating in the industrial and automotive segments — two verticals where the region holds significant production weight — the noted recovery in these end markets is a relevant indicator. Both segments had experienced prolonged inventory corrections following the post-pandemic demand normalization.
From a materials and advanced packaging perspective, the continued growth in silicon wafer shipments also supports activity in adjacent process steps relevant to EPP Europe's readership: wafer-level packaging, die attach, and encapsulation processes all depend on upstream wafer supply stability. The SEMI SMG data suggest that supply constraints are easing as capacity investments mature, which may reduce pressure on component availability for downstream assembly operations in the medium term.
The SMG is a sub-committee of the SEMI Electronic Materials Group (EMG) and includes SEMI members engaged in the production of polycrystalline silicon, monocrystalline silicon, and silicon wafers. Detailed shipment statistics are available through SEMI's Worldwide Silicon Wafer Shipment Statistics service.
Quelle: SEMICON Europa – https://www.semi.org/en/semi-press-release/semi-reports-worldwide-silicon-wafer-shipments-increase-7.4-percent-year-on-year-in-q2-2026
