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

Top 10 Semiconductor Foundries of The World in 2023 — Image via: Wikipedia

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

China feuds chip battle as it hires over 100 TSMC engineers

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!

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