Worldwide Silicon Wafer Shipments Rise 13.4% Year-on-Year in Q3 2026

MILPITAS, Calif., Nov. 4, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Silicon wafer shipments worldwide saw a significant increase of 13.4% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2026, reaching 3,756 million square inches (MSI), according to a report by the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI). This growth follows a 5.1% quarter-over-quarter increase from the 3,573 MSI recorded in the second quarter of 2026.

The rise in shipments is attributed to a broad-based recovery, particularly driven by the acceleration of demand in artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced packaging applications. Masatsugu Miura, Chairman of the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) and General Manager of Sales & Marketing Department at SUMCO Corporation, highlighted that AI-related demand has expanded beyond advanced logic and memory to include power devices and photonics. Additionally, industrial demand has strengthened, supported by robotics, AI server power supplies, and the growing need for general-purpose industrial semiconductors. Bonding and advanced packaging applications have also contributed to the demand for 300mm polished wafers.

Silicon wafers serve as the fundamental building material for most semiconductors, which are crucial components in electronic devices. These highly engineered thin disks are produced in diameters of up to 300mm and act as the substrate material on which most semiconductors are fabricated. The SEMI SMG, a sub-committee of the SEMI Electronic Materials Group (EMG), facilitates collective efforts on issues related to the silicon industry, including the development of statistics about the silicon industry.

The SEMI, an industry association connecting over 4,000 companies and 1.5 million professionals worldwide across the semiconductor and electronics design and manufacturing supply chain, plays a pivotal role in advancing member collaboration on solutions to top industry challenges through advocacy, workforce development, sustainability, supply chain management, and other programs.