SEMI forecasts significant growth in 2026 silicon wafer shipments due to AI demand

SEMI projects an 11.8% increase in global silicon wafer shipments for 2026, reaching 14,420 million square inches, with record highs expected through 2029. This growth is primarily driven by strong demand related to artificial intelligence, specifically impacting advanced epitaxial wafers for leading-edge logic and polished wafers used in memory applications. The forecast highlights the continued expansion of the semiconductor industry, fueled by AI.