Silicon wafer shipments grew 7.4% year over year in the second quarter, according to new data from SEMI, as AI demand spilled beyond advanced logic and memory into power devices and photonics.
The SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group counted 3,573 million square inches of wafers shipped between April and June, up from 3,327 MSI in the same quarter of 2025 and 9.1% above the 3,275 MSI shipped in the first quarter of 2026.
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 a SUMCO executive.
Yada added that industrial and automotive demand is recovering, while memory price pressures continue to constrain PC and smartphone sales. Device makers are investing heavily in capacity, and wafer demand growth is expected to continue.
The numbers give the supply chain a fresh read on the AI buildout. Wafer shipments track production activity closely, and another quarter of gains suggests fab investment is translating into actual output. For equipment and materials suppliers, the trend reinforces expectations of a record spending cycle, even as consumer electronics remains a weak spot.
