<div id="readability-page-1" class="page">The SEMISilicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) reported today, in its quarterly analysis of the silicon wafer industry, that worldwide silicon wafer shipments increased 13.1% year-on-year to 3,275 million square inches (MSI) from the 2,896 MSI recorded during the same quarter of 2025. Sequentially, shipments declined 4.7% quarter-over-quarter from the 3,437 MSI recorded during the fourth quarter of 2025 inline with typical seasonality.“Silicon wafer demand related to AI data centers continues to be strong, including advanced logic and memory, and also now extending to power management devices,” said Ginji Yada, Chairman of SEMI SMG and Managing Executive Officer, General Manager, Sales and Marketing Division at SUMCO Corporation. “Overall, silicon wafer demand has improved, but the recovery is not uniform. Many device companies have noted improvements in the industrial semiconductor segment, and this is creating a more broad-based recovery as wafer inventory is absorbed. Weaker smartphone and PC shipments in the first quarter of this year may show the impact of tighter supply of memory due to AI high bandwidth memory (HBM) allocation decisions.”Silicon wafers are the fundamental building material for the majority of semiconductors, which are vital components of all electronic devices. The highly engineered thin disks are produced in diameters of up to 300 mm and serve as the substrate material on which most semiconductors are fabricated.The SMG is a sub-committee of the SEMI Electronic Materials Group (EMG) and is open to SEMI members involved in manufacturing polycrystalline silicon, monocrystalline silicon or silicon wafers (e.g., as cut, polished, epitaxial). The SMG facilitates collective efforts on issues related to the silicon industry, including the development of statistics about the silicon industry.</div>

SEMI reports a 13.1% year-on-year increase in global silicon wafer shipments for Q1 2026, totaling 3,275 million square inches. This growth is driven by strong AI-related demand, particularly in advanced logic and memory sectors. However, a 4.7% decline from Q4 2025 reflects typical seasonal trends. While overall demand is improving, the recovery varies across sectors, with weaker smartphone and PC shipments noted due to memory supply constraints linked to AI high bandwidth memory allocation.

- The SEMISilicon Manufacturers Group reported a 13.1% year-on-year increase in global silicon wafer shipments to 3,275 million square inches, despite a sequential decline of 4.7% from the previous quarter.  
- Demand for silicon wafers remains strong, particularly for AI data centers, although recovery varies across sectors, with industrial semiconductors showing improvements amid weaker smartphone and PC sales.  
- Silicon wafers are essential for semiconductor fabrication, and the SMG, part of SEMI, supports industry collaboration and statistical development.

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SEMI Reports Worldwide Silicon Wafer Shipments Increase 13% Year-on-Year in Q1 2026