Outlook Supplement - Flipbook - Page 3
Editorial
Here’s to 2026!
T
HE SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY’S GROWTH IS MAINTAINING ITS
upward trajectory. The expectation is that it will hit the
$1 trillion mark sooner than expected (as illustrated by
our cover). The World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS)
organization predicts that the global semiconductor market
will reach $975 billion in 2026. Growth is expected across all
regions and product categories. Memory and Logic are again
projected to lead, both increasing by over 30 percent year over
year. Most other product categories are expected to continue
their gradual recovery, expanding at a more moderate pace.
Regionally, all major markets are expected to expand. The
Americas and Asia Pacific remain the strongest contributors,
while Europe and Japan are forecast to see low double-digit
growth.
This means we are likely to hit the $1 trillion mark well
before the earlier projected date of 2030.
After a record high of $133 billion in 2025, SEMI expects
global sales of total semiconductor manufacturing equipment
by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to reach $145
billion in 2026 and $156 billion in 2027. This growth will be
driven primarily by investments related to AI, particularly in
leading-edge logic, memory, and the adoption of advanced
packaging technologies.
“Global semiconductor equipment sales show robust
momentum, with both the front-end and back-end segments
projected to see three consecutive years of growth, culminating
in total sales surpassing $150 billion for the first time in 2027,”
said Ajit Manocha, SEMI president and CEO. “Investments
Kerry Hoffman, Publisher
kerryh@semiconductordigest.com
978-580-4205
Pete Singer, Editor-in-Chief
psinger@semiconductordigest.com
978-470-1806
Shannon Davis, Web and News Editor
sdavis@semiconductordigest.com
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to support AI demand have been stronger
than anticipated since our midyear forecast,
leading us to boost the outlook for all segments.
Rising demand from cutting-edge applications like AI, 5/6G
communications, autonomous vehicles, and more has prompted
industry to significantly increase global production capacity.
SEMI’s 300mm Fab Outlook report shows global front-end
semiconductor suppliers are accelerating expansion efforts to
support the surging demand for generative AI applications. The
global semiconductor manufacturing industry is expected to
maintain strong momentum, with capacity projected to grow
at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% from the end
of 2024 through 2028, reaching a record high of 11.1 million
wafers per month (wpm).
A key driver of this growth is the continued expansion of advanced process capacity (7nm and below), which is expected to
increase by approximately 69% – from 850,000 wpm in 2024
to a historic high of 1.4 million wpm in 2028 – representing a
CAGR of around 14%, double the industry average.
With this unprecedented growth come not only new challenges in technology, but also in fab construction, data analytics, regulations, sustainability and workforce development.
Here at Semiconductor Digest, we seek to provide clarity on
business and technical issues through a mix of news, feature
articles, newsletters, on-line webinars and live show coverage.
Check out our 2026 Media Planner to see how we can best
work together. I’m looking forward to a great 2026!
—Pete Singer, Editor-in-Chief
Dave Lammers, Contributing Editor
dplammers@att.net
John Blyler, Contributing Editor
jblyler@semiconductordigest.com
Dick James, Contributing Editor
dickjames@siliconics.ca
Cindy Chamberlin, Art Director
Rich Mehta, Website Design
Supplement to January 2026 VOL. 8 •
Semiconductor Digest ©2026
ISSN 2643-7058 (print) ISSN 2643-7074 (online).
Semiconductor Digest is published eight times a
year by Gold Flag Media LLC, 58 Summer St.,
Andover, MA 01810. Copyright © 2026 by
Gold Flag Media LLC.
All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.
Semiconductor Digest Supplement to January 2026
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