Silicon wafer shipments have emerged from negative growth on demand for AI semiconductors. Wafer shipments returned to growth last year. Demand was strong for advanced logic epitaxial wafers and polished wafers used for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), helped by the expansion of AI applications. Weak wafer revenue is attributed to delays in the recovery of demand and prices.

SEMI, a global electronics industry supply chain association, said on Wednesday that global silicon wafer shipments in 2025 rose 5.8 percent from a year earlier to 12.973 billion square inches. Wafer revenue fell 1.2 percent over the same period to $11.4 billion.

Silicon wafers are a key basic material used to manufacture most semiconductors. They are produced as thin, highly precision-engineered discs and are made in diameters up to 300 mm. SEMI assessed that the wafer market is showing differing trends by technology node.

Demand for 300 mm wafers remains steady, centred on advanced applications such as AI-based logic and HBM. The spread of processes at 3 nm and below is supporting that trend. SEMI said this technology shift is tightening requirements for wafer quality and highlighting the importance of advanced material solutions.

The overall market is showing a two-track trend of continued demand expansion and technological advancement in advanced nodes, alongside a gradual rebound in mature technology segments. As data centre and generative AI investment drives demand, the legacy semiconductor segment is showing signs of gradual stabilisation. It remains sensitive to the impact of the global economy.

Jin-gi Yada (긴지 야다), chairman of SEMI's silicon manufacturers group, said wafer and chip inventory levels in mature-node areas such as automotive, industrial and consumer electronics are entering a normalisation phase after a prolonged inventory adjustment. He said the supply-demand environment is improving sequentially, but the pace of recovery is moderate and remains sensitive to macroeconomic factors and market demand.