Between Samsung and TSMC, the Taiwanese firm controls more than half of global foundry production

Between Samsung and TSMC, the Taiwanese firm controls more than half of global foundry production

When it comes to making chipsets, there’s Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Samsung and the rest. The Taiwanese firm was running at full capacity to meet global demand for chips as the world faced a shortage of semiconductors.

Among them, the Taiwanese firm controls more than half of global foundry production. TSMC operates the largest silicon wafer factories in the world and makes some of the most advanced microchips used in almost everything from smartphones to cars. Its biggest clients include Apple and Qualcomm.

In July, TSMC CEO C.C. Wei told investors that demand from its clients continues to exceed the company’s ability to supply and that it expects capacity to remain tight through the end of 2022. He also noted that the company will make inventory adjustments in the first half of 2023 as demand for smartphones and personal computers go soft.

On Thursday, the Taipei-based company announced sales for August. Rising global demand lifted the company’s revenue by nearly 60% to a record $7.06 billion. Its August sales rose 58% year-over-year and jumped nearly 16% compared to July. The company also reported a 43% increase in revenue for the first eight months of the year compared to the same period last year.

TSMC’s latest sales figures come as geopolitics around the semiconductor business heats up. The US tightens technology flows to China. It recently restricted sales of AI chips and high-end chip equipment to Chinese customers. Washington is also considering moves to limit US investment in Chinese technology companies, even as it prepares to offer billions to chipmakers as incentives to boost semiconductor production in the country. The EU is also strengthening plans to support domestic semiconductor production.