Core Insights - The global average capacity utilization rate of major wafer foundries is projected to reach approximately 86% by Q3 2025, reflecting a year-on-year increase of about 6 percentage points, indicating a positive recovery trend in overall capacity utilization [1] - The demand for 8-inch wafers is significantly recovering, driven by applications in automotive and industrial control, particularly in mainland China, where capacity utilization rates are rising [1] - The pricing trends for different process nodes indicate stability for 12-inch wafers, while 8-inch wafer prices are expected to see an increase due to rising demand and supply issues [3][4] Summary by Category 12-inch Wafers - For the 28/40nm process, prices are stabilizing, supported by local substitution demand in mainland China, with utilization rates expected to approach full capacity by 2026 [1] - The 55nm process maintains an overall utilization rate above 80%, with stable demand from applications such as image sensors and embedded flash memory [2] - The 90nm process sees high utilization rates among leading manufacturers, but increased capacity from second-tier manufacturers may exert pricing pressure [2] 8-inch Wafers - The demand for 8-inch wafers is recovering significantly, particularly due to automotive applications, with some manufacturers already increasing prices in Q3 2025 [3] - The supply issues faced by certain semiconductor companies are expected to create urgent demand for local wafer foundries, contributing to price increases [3] Price Trends - The overall pricing for 12-inch wafers is expected to remain stable, while the 8-inch wafer prices are projected to maintain an upward trend due to increased demand and supply constraints [3][4]