GlobalWafers forms partnership with Apple in global supply chain

Taipei, Aug. 8 (CNA) Taiwan-based GlobalWafers Co., the world's third largest silicon wafer supplier, on Thursday announced a new partnership with Apple Inc. through subsidiary GlobalWafers America LLC, to strengthen the U.S. semiconductor manufacturing supply chain.

In a statement, GlobalWafers said the two sides will work together to build demand for 12-inch advanced silicon wafers manufactured at the Taiwanese firm's flagship production facility located in Sherman of Texas.

GlobalWafers, which did not provide any details on what the partnership would actually entail, said the partnership with Apple aligns with the Trump administration's initiative to make the United States the world leader in semiconductor manufacturing.

According to GlobalWafers, 12-inch silicon wafers are the essential input used by pure play foundry operators and integrated device manufacturers to roll out leading-edge, mature-node, and memory chips.

"The iPhone and iPad are well-known in every nation in the world, and we're thrilled that silicon from GlobalWafers America will be found in many of these incredible products," GlobalWafers Chairperson Doris Hsu (徐秀蘭) said in the statement.

"We feel honored that Apple is working with us and their first-tier suppliers to make American semiconductor manufacturing great again," Hsu said.

In the statement, Apple's chief operating officer Sabih Khan said the partnership with GlobalWafers is part of the U.S. company's US$600 billion commitment to the United States over the next four years.

GlobalWafers said the U.S. government has made it easier for semiconductor companies to invest in the U.S. market by expanding the advanced manufacturing investment credit to 35 percent under the latest budget bill passed and by streamlining the CHIPS for America Program.

The company said its new partnership with Apple simply builds on this foundation by using market forces to drive supply chain demand.

GlobalWafers has expanded through mergers and acquisitions in recent years, which has helped its global ranking rise to third.

On its website, GlobalWafers said it runs 18 sites in nine countries -- Taiwan, China, the U.S., Japan, Denmark, Korea, Italy, Malaysia and Singapore.