Global Silicon Wafer Supply Gap Projected to Widen to 24% by 2028

Analysts project that the global supply-demand gap for silicon wafers will expand from approximately 8% at the end of 2026 to 15% in 2027 and 24% by 2028, driven by the expansion of HBM and sub-2nm logic production. Mid-2027 is identified as a critical turning point, with potential shortages expected through early 2028 if supply growth fails to keep pace. SEMI data shows global silicon wafer shipments reached 3.573 billion square inches in Q2 2026, up 9.1% quarter-over-quarter.