[News] Global Silicon Wafer Shipments Rise 6% in Q3 Boosted by Robust AI Demand, Says SEMI

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According to SEMI, the global shipments of silicon wafers increased 5.9% quarter-over-quarter to 3,214 million square inches (MSI) in the third quarter, and registered 6.8% growth from the 3,010 million square inches recorded during the same quarter last year, which could be attributed to the strong demand for advanced wafers used for AI.

Citing Lee Chungwei, Chairman of SEMI SMG, SEMI notes that the third quarter wafer shipment results continued the upward trend which started in the second quarter of this year.

It is worth noting that inventory levels have declined throughout the supply chain but generally remain high. Apart from the robust demand of advanced wafers used for AI, the silicon wafer demand for other applications, such as automotive and industrial uses continues to be muted, while the demand for silicon used for handset and other consumer products has seen some areas of improvement, according to SEMI.

In SEMI’s press release, it states that 2025 is likely to continue upward trends, but total silicon wafer shipments are not yet expected to return to the peak levels of 2022.

According to SEMI’s forecast in October, the global shipments of silicon wafers are projected to decline 2% to 12,174 million square inches (MSI) in 2024, while strong rebound of 10% is expected in 2025, with shipments projected to reach 13,328 MSI as demand continues to recover.

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(Photo credit: Intel)