SUMCO Posts Third Straight Quarterly Loss as Legacy Demand Stays Weak, AI Wafer Demand Remains Strong

SUMCO is one of the world’s leading suppliers of semiconductor silicon wafers, a foundational material for chip manufacturing. The market is sharply divided: AI and data centers are lifting demand for 12-inch wafers used in advanced logic and memory chips, while recovery in traditional markets such as consumer electronics remains slow. Customers continue to draw down inventories, weakening shipments of 8-inch and smaller products and weighing on overall profitability.

SUMCO reported its January–March results after the market closed on May 12, 2026. Revenue fell 1.0% year on year to ¥101.4 billion, while the company posted an operating loss of ¥5.2 billion and a net loss of ¥8.4 billion, marking a third consecutive quarterly loss on both measures. Its shares briefly fell by the daily limit to ¥3,060 on May 13. SUMCO forecasts April–June revenue of ¥112 billion, an operating loss of ¥2.5 billion and a net loss of ¥7 billion, potentially extending its losing streak to four quarters.