"Electric Vehicle Effect" 8-Inch Semiconductor Fab Production Capacity Expected to Increase by 14% by 2026

"Production Capacity of Automotive and Power Semiconductors Fabs to Increase by 34% by 2026"

It is forecasted that 200mm (8-inch) wafers used in the production of legacy semiconductors will see increased usage alongside the growth of the automotive semiconductor market, including electric vehicles.

On the 22nd, the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) announced that the global production capacity of 8-inch semiconductor fabs (factories) is expected to increase by 14% from this year through 2026. The number of related fabs is also projected to rise from 216 to 227 during the same period. Furthermore, the monthly wafer usage is anticipated to reach 7.7 million units, setting a new record.

SEMI foresees that the growing demand for power and compound semiconductors, which are essential in consumer electronics, automotive, and industrial sectors, will drive this growth. In particular, the development of powertrains for electric vehicles and the expansion of charging stations are expected to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, thereby further accelerating this trend.

200mm (8-inch) Semiconductor Fab Production Capacity and Fab Count Outlook /
[Image provided by SEMI]

Ajit Manocha, CEO of SEMI, stated, "The growth of the automotive industry is expected to sustain the continuous expansion of 8-inch fab production capacity, especially as the semiconductor usage in electric vehicles increases, driving the expansion of 8-inch fab production capacity."

In fact, semiconductor suppliers such as Bosch, Fuji Electronic, Infineon, Mitsubishi, ON Semiconductor, ROHM, STMicroelectronics, and Wolfspeed are expanding their 8-inch production capacities to meet the rising demand. SEMI projects that the production capacity of automotive and power semiconductor fabs will increase by 34% from this year through 2026.

Regionally, the growth in 8-inch fab production capacity in Southeast Asia is expected to be the most pronounced, with a 32% increase forecasted from this year through 2026. China is expected to hold the largest share of 8-inch fab production capacity this year, accounting for 22%.