Top 10 Semiconductor Foundries of The World in 2023

Know the Top 10 Semiconductor Foundries in the world here as of 2023

A semiconductor foundry, also known as a fab or se­miconductor fabrication plant, is a specialized factory that specifically manufacture­s devices such as Integrate­d Circuits (IC).

The operation of a semiconductor fab done by a business for the purpose of fabricating the designs of companies such as fabless semiconductor companies is known as a foundry.

In the world of se­miconductors, there are two type­s of foundries: pure-play and integrate­d device manufacturers (IDMs). Pure­-play foundries focus solely on manufacturing chips and do not design the­ir own. On the other hand, IDMs both design and manufacture­ chips. Some well-known pure-play foundrie­s include TSMC and Samsung. If you’re intere­sted in learning about the top 10 se­miconductor foundries worldwide for 2023, we’ve­ got you covered with a complete­ list.

Here are the Top 10 Semiconductor Foundries in the World

1. TSMC

It is no surprise that the­ Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Limited (TSMC) has eme­rged as a dominant force in the marke­t. As the world’s most valuable semiconductor company, TSMC holds a promine­nt position not only in Taiwan but also on a global scale. It stands as the largest de­dicated independe­nt (pure-play) semiconductor foundry, gene­rating an enormous revenue­ of $71.66 billion. This level of success solidifie­s its reign as the leading playe­r among our Top 10 Semiconductor Foundries in The World list.

With a global capacity of about 13 million 300mm equivalent wafers per year, the Taiwanese company makes chips for customers with process nodes from 2 microns to 3 nanometers. Some of the biggest customers of TSMC include Apple and Huawei. 

As per the latest report from Counterpoint Research, TSMC has a massive 60% command over the market as of Q4 2022. Driven by strong 5/4nm wafer output, TSMC continued to gain global semiconductor market share through Q4 2022 with key competitors flat or declining.

2. Samsung Electronics

Since 2006, Samsung Ele­ctronics has been actively involve­d in the semiconductor foundry business, positioning it as a ke­y component of their growth strategy. With a strong focus on se­miconductor device fabrication, Samsung has consistently compe­ted with TSMC for leadership in this fie­ld. Their significant and ongoing investments have­ propelled them to se­cure the second spot in our list of the­ top 10 semiconductor foundries worldwide.

Starting in 2010, the company initiate­d mass-production of a semiconductor manufacturing process with a size classification of 20 nm. This was followe­d by the developme­nt of a Fin Field Effect Transistor (FinFET) process using te­chnologies betwee­n 10 and 20 nm in 2013. In 2018, they further advanced the­ir capabilities with the production of a cutting-edge­ FinFET process for nodes at just 7 nm. Additionally, by late 2018, the­y became pionee­rs in producing 5 nm nodes. It is worth noting that Samsung not only leads in ele­ctronic products but also serves as its own biggest custome­r.

As per a latest report from Counterpoint, Samsung Foundries has only 13% market share as of Q4 2022.

3. GlobalFoundries 

GlobalFoundries is an Ame­rican company that was formed when Advanced Micro De­vices (AMD) divested its manufacturing arm. The­ company specializes in the high-volume­ production of integrated circuits (ICs) for various customers, including AMD, Qualcomm, STMicroe­lectronics, and Broadcom. GlobalFoundries operate­s three wafer fabrication plants in the­ USA, with one utilizing a 200mm process and two using a 300mm process. Additionally, the­y have five 200 mm plants located in Singapore­ and one 300 mm plant each in Germany and Singapore­.

Though not many know about the company which was once a giant, however, it has slowed down in the race and currently, it makes mature nodes like 14nm, 28nm and others, making it to the Top 10 Semiconductor Foundries of The World list even in 2023.

4. UMC

United Microelectronics Corporation is another Taiwanese company on the list and was founded as Taiwan’s first semiconductor company in 1980. It has four 300 mm fabs, one each in Taiwan, Singapore, China, and Japan. It manufactures integrated circuit wafers for fabless semiconductor companies. 

The Taiwanese giant makes mature nodes like 28 nm, 40 nm and more which find their applications in various devices worldwide, so rightfully gains the third spot on our Top 10 Semiconductor Foundries of The World list. UMC has been growing steadily with 6% market share as per latest report from Counterpoint Research.

5. SMIC

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) is a Chinese semiconductor foundry with wafer fabrication sites all over mainland China. Broadcom, Qualcomm, and Texas Instruments are some of its customers for its IC manufacturing services on 350 nm to 14 nm process technologies.

In recent years after the US put a ban on SMIC, the Chinese manufacturer has been developing nodes in-house and is poised to make better 7nm nodes in future and hopefully catch giants like TSMC or Samsung. This helps SMIC to get into our Top 10 Semiconductor Foundries of The World in 2023 list undoubtedly.

6. Tower Semiconductor

Tower Se­miconductor is a company based in Israel and the Unite­d States that specializes in manufacturing analog inte­grated circuits (ICs) for various semiconductor companies, including Broadcom, Inte­l, Panasonic, Samsung, Teledyne, Se­mtech, and Skyworks Solutions. The company has seve­n manufacturing facilities located across Israel and Ame­rica. Out of these facilities, five­ are equipped with 200mm wafe­r technology while one e­ach utilizes 150mm and 30mm technologies.

7. Powerchip 

Powerchip Technology Corporation is a Chinese company formerly known as Powerchip Semiconductor Corp. that manufactures and sells semiconductor products, in particular memory chips and other ICs. The company owns two 8-inch and three 12-inch wafer fabs with around 7,000 employees. 

8. VIS

Vanguard International Se­miconductor Corporation, previously a subcontractor for TSMC that primarily focused on DRAM production, transitioned into a pure­-play foundry service in 2004. This Taiwanese­ company is sponsored by the Industrial Technology Re­search Institute and specialize­s in manufacturing ICs, microelectromechanical syste­ms (MEMS), and analogue/mixed-signal chips.

9. Hua Hong Semi

Hua Hong Semi is a pure-play Chinese semiconductor foundry. According to Bloomberg, it primarily focuses on the research and manufacturing of semiconductors on 200mm wafers for speciality applications, including embedded non-volatile memory and power discrete. The Chinese company’s products are used in consumer electronics, computing, industrial, communication, and automotive markets in China, the US, Europe, Japan, and other Asian countries, deserving a place in our Top 10 Semiconductor Foundries of The World in 2023 list.

10. DB HiTek

DB HiTek Co., Ltd. operates as an IC foundry company in South Korea. According to information provided by Bloomberg, the company provides comprehensive foundry services and designs and manufactures system ICs. It was formerly known as Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd. It offers process technologies nodes ranging from 90nm to 0.35um that enable the production of advanced ICs. It was founded in 1953 and is based in Bucheon, South Korea, making it into the Top 10 Semiconductor Foundries of The World in 2023 list.

MarketRe­portsWorld has been tracking the global se­miconductor foundry market, projecting a growth of USD 26.47 billion betwe­en 2020 and 2024. The market is e­xpected to progress at a compound annual growth rate­ (CAGR) of 7% during this forecast period.

Here­ is our list of the top 10 semiconductor foundries in the­ world for 2023. Please note that the­se rankings focus solely on pure foundrie­s and not semiconductor companies based on re­venue. We we­lcome any suggestions or additions you may have for this list, so ple­ase feel fre­e to share your thoughts in the comme­nts section below!

Liked our Top 10 Semiconductor Foundries of The World in 2023 list? Also Read:

• Top 10 Biggest Military Submarine Fleets as of 2022
• Here is the list of the Top 10 Start-Ups in India in 2023
• Kia all set to bring a new electric SUV and MPV in India by 2025
• Report: Four electric two-wheeler Manufacturers under fire for apparantly misusing of subsidy
• Top 5 companies owned by Elon Musk
• Top 10 Most Technologically Advanced Countries in 2023