Global wafer foundry utilization is nearing 90% as intense AI-driven demand keeps advanced and mature chip capacity tight through 2026, according to Digitimes.
Overall fab utilization is approaching 90%, with no significant price relief expected before 2027.
Surging requirements for AI accelerators and data center infrastructure continue to strain leading-edge node capacity, spilling over into mature and specialty manufacturing processes.
Global wafer foundry revenue for 2026 is projected to increase substantially, driven by robust advanced-process expansions. According to Digitimes, “AI demand is driving a broader repricing cycle across the foundry industry in 2026. Tightness that began at leading-edge nodes is spreading into mature and specialty processes, lifting wafer prices, utilization and downstream chip mafufacturing.
Think Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM)
