GlobalWafers prepares for phase 2 investment in Texas

Taipei, Jan. 21 (CNA) Taiwan-based silicon wafer supplier GlobalWafers Co. has begun preparatory work for the second phase of its investment in Texas for expansion.

Speaking with reporters, GlobalWafers Chairwoman Doris Hsu (徐秀蘭) said the company aims to develop its Texas complex into a flagship production base to strengthen its global competitiveness.

In the wake of a Taiwan-U.S. trade deal which encourages Taiwanese semiconductor firms to expand production in the U.S., some of GlobalWafers' clients have inquired whether the company plans to increase its investments there, Hsu said.

As the company has already started plant design work for the second phase, Hsu said the new facility will be able to respond quickly if clients make commitments.

GlobalWafers' U.S. subsidiary, GlobalWafers America (GWA), opened its first 12-inch silicon wafer fab in Sherman, Texas, in May 2025 as its phase 1 investment.

According to the company, GWA plans to invest a total of US$3.5 billion in its phase 1 and phase 2 projects in Texas and intends to invest an additional US$4.0 billion in the state.

GlobalWafers has secured US$200 million in subsidies for its U.S. investments under the CHIPS and Science Act, and has applied for further support through the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit (AMIC) since October 2025, Hsu said.

Commenting on the global semiconductor market, Hsu added that 2026 is expected to be a good year for the industry, with artificial intelligence continuing to serve as a major driver of growth, though performance will vary across segments.

GlobalWafers expects quarterly sales to rise throughout the year after bottoming out in the first quarter, she said.

Following inventory adjustments in the global silicon wafer market in 2025, inventories have returned to healthy levels this year, Hsu noted, adding that the company expects to sign long-term supply contracts with customers in the second half of the year.

In 2025, GlobalWafers reported consolidated sales of NT$60.598 billion (US$1.92 billion), down 3.24 percent from a year earlier. However, excluding foreign exchange effects revenue was largely unchanged from 2024.

Through a series of mergers and acquisitions in recent years, the company has become the world's third-largest silicon wafer producer. It currently operates 18 sites across nine countries, including Taiwan, China, the United States, Japan, Denmark, South Korea, Italy, Malaysia and Singapore.

In October 2025, GlobalWafers opened a 12-inch silicon wafer plant in Novara, northern Italy, the most advanced silicon wafer facility in the country to date.