3rd Quarter Global Silicon Wafer Shipments Increase by 5.9% Compared to Previous Quarter

International Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Association Announcement
Analysis of AI Semiconductor Demand Growth Impact
"Upward Trend to Continue Next Year... Not Expected to Reach Peak Levels"

The Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) announced on the 13th that the global shipment volume of silicon wafers in the third quarter of this year reached 3.214 billion square inches, a 5.9% increase compared to the previous quarter. This figure is 6.8% higher than the same period last year (3.01 billion square inches). The increase is attributed to growing market demand for artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors, leading to a continued rise in shipments of the core material, silicon wafers, following the previous quarter. Earlier, silicon wafer shipments in the second quarter of this year also rose by 7.1% compared to the previous quarter.

Semiconductor Wafer Yonhap News

Li Qingwei, Chairman of SEMI SMG (Vice President of GlobalWafers), stated, "Although inventory levels remain high, demand for wafers used in AI continues to be strong. Demand for mobile phones and other consumer products is also improving, but demand for automotive and industrial wafers is slowing down." He added, "The upward trend in silicon wafer shipments is expected to continue next year, but it is unlikely to reach the peak levels recorded in 2022."