Siltronic AG has released its financial guidance for 2026, projecting group sales to be in the mid-single-digit percent range below the previous year's preliminary figure of EUR 1,347 million. The company anticipates an EBITDA margin between 20 and 24 percent, compared to 23.5 percent in 2025, reflecting a challenging market environment characterized by multiple headwinds.
The Executive Board expects negative exchange rate effects, ongoing price pressure outside existing long-term agreements, declining 200mm wafer business, and the full-year impact of the SD line closure to significantly affect 2026 performance. The guidance assumes an exchange rate of EUR/USD 1.18, compared to EUR/USD 1.13 in the previous year. On a comparable basis excluding exchange rate effects and the SD line closure, sales are expected to be roughly in line with 2025 levels.
CEO Dr. Michael Heckmeier explained the market dynamics: "2026 will still be a challenging year, even though AI‑driven end markets are clearly supporting our 300 mm volume. However, the positive developments in the memory segment have not yet fully reached the wafer industry." He noted that customer capacity constraints are slowing growth in end markets such as smartphones and PCs despite high prices benefiting many customers.
The company projects significantly increased depreciation of EUR 490-520 million due to investments in the 300mm business, resulting in operating profit (EBIT) falling substantially below the previous year's preliminary figure of EUR -26 million. Capital expenditure is expected to be substantially reduced to EUR 180-220 million from EUR 369 million in 2025, though payments will exceed this level, keeping net cash flow in the range of the previous year's EUR -85 million.
This guidance matters because Siltronic is a leading wafer manufacturer whose silicon wafers form the foundation of the modern semiconductor industry, powering everything from computers and smartphones to electric cars and wind turbines. The company's performance serves as a bellwether for semiconductor materials demand, with implications for global electronics supply chains. The projected sales decline and margin pressure indicate persistent challenges in the sector despite growth in artificial intelligence applications, suggesting that broader semiconductor industry recovery may be uneven across different segments and geographies.
The full audited Annual Report 2025 will be published on March 12, 2026, providing more detailed financial information. Additional company information is available at https://www.siltronic.com. The original release was published on https://www.newmediawire.com.
