Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) secured a 64 percent share of the global pure play foundry business in the third quarter of last year, up from 62 percent a quarter earlier, further cementing the company’s lead over its peers, according to market research firm Counterpoint Research.
In a report issued on Nov. 26 last year, Counterpoint said the better than expected market share enjoyed by TSMC was bolstered by high utilization rates in its advanced 5 nanometer and 3nm processes and also fueled by strong global artificial intelligence (AI) accelerator demand and smartphone sales.
South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co came in second with a 12 percent share of the global market, on the back of an increase in shipments of chips made on its 4nm and 5nm processes.
Photo: CNA
It was followed by China’s Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC, 中芯), which secured 6 percent taking advantage of solid demand for mature processes such as the 28nm process.
United Microelectronics Corp (聯電), another contract chipmaker in Taiwan, tied with US-based GlobalFoundries Inc to take a 5 percent share in the third quarter, in the wake of stable demand in the Internet of Things and communications infrastructure markets, Counterpoints said.
Counterpoint also said that the 3nm process rose to second place in the third quarter by taking a 13 percent share of the global market.
It replaced 7/6nm technology (11 percent) on the back of the full utilization of TSMC’s 3nm production capacity, as production by US-based consumer electronics giant Apple Inc, American smartphone IC designer Qualcomm Inc, US chipmaker Intel Corp and Taiwan’s smartphone IC designer MediaTek Inc (聯發科) gained momentum.
The 5/4nm process took first place in the global market by securing 24 percent of the market in the third quarter, driven by strong AI demand, including American AI chip designer Nvidia Corp’s Blackwell graphics processing units, Counterpoint said.
TSMC is prepared to start commercial production of the more sophisticated 2nm process at its fab in Hsinchu County’s Baoshan Township (寶山) later this year, making the plant the chipmaker’s first fab to roll out chips made on that particular technology.
Local media reported yesterday that another TSMC 2nm fab located in Kaohsiung will start a trial run later this month, though the company declined to comment on the report ahead of an investor conference slated for Thursday.
The 2nm process will be 10-15 percent faster than the current N3E, an enhanced version of the 3nm process, and consume less power. In addition, density will also be more than 15 percent higher.
STEEP DECLINE: Yesterday’s drop was the third-steepest in its history, the steepest being Monday’s drop in the wake of the tariff announcement on Wednesday last week Taiwanese stocks continued their heavy sell-off yesterday, as concerns over US tariffs and unwinding of leveraged bets weighed on the market. The benchmark TAIEX plunged 1,068.19 points, or 5.79 percent, to 17,391.76, notching the biggest drop among Asian peers as it hit a 15-month low. The decline came even after the government on late Tuesday authorized the NT$500 billion (US$15.2 billion) National Stabilization Fund (國安基金) to step in to buoy the market amid investors’ worries over tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. Yesterday’s decline was the third-steepest in its history, trailing only the declines of 2,065.87 points on Monday and
TAKING STOCK: A Taiwanese cookware firm in Vietnam urged customers to assess inventory or place orders early so shipments can reach the US while tariffs are paused Taiwanese businesses in Vietnam are exploring alternatives after the White House imposed a 46 percent import duty on Vietnamese goods, following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of “reciprocal” tariffs on the US’ trading partners. Lo Shih-liang (羅世良), chairman of Brico Industry Co (裕茂工業), a Taiwanese company that manufactures cast iron cookware and stove components in Vietnam, said that more than 40 percent of his business was tied to the US market, describing the constant US policy shifts as an emotional roller coaster. “I work during the day and stay up all night watching the news. I’ve been following US news until 3am
Six years ago, LVMH’s billionaire CEO Bernard Arnault and US President Donald Trump cut the blue ribbon on a factory in rural Texas that would make designer handbags for Louis Vuitton, one of the world’s best-known luxury brands. However, since the high-profile opening, the factory has faced a host of problems limiting production, 11 former Louis Vuitton employees said. The site has consistently ranked among the worst-performing for Louis Vuitton globally, “significantly” underperforming other facilities, said three former Louis Vuitton workers and a senior industry source, who cited internal rankings shared with staff. The plant’s problems — which have not
TARIFF CONCERNS: The chipmaker cited global uncertainty from US tariffs and a weakening economic outlook, but said its Singapore expansion remains on track Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp (世界先進), a foundry service provider specializing in producing power management and display driver chips, yesterday withdrew its full-year revenue projection of moderate growth for this year, as escalating US tariff tensions raised uncertainty and concern about a potential economic recession. The Hsinchu-based chipmaker in February said revenues this year would grow mildly from last year based on improving supply chain inventory levels and market demand. At the time, it also anticipated gradual quarter revenue growth. However, the US’ sweeping tariff policy has upended the industry’s supply chains and weakened economic prospects for the world economy, it said. “Now
RSS