Taipei: 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 stated that the company aims to develop its Texas complex into a flagship production base to strengthen its global competitiveness.
According to Focus Taiwan, the company has already started plant design work for the second phase, which will allow the new facility to respond swiftly if clients make commitments. The move comes in the wake of a Taiwan-U.S. trade deal encouraging Taiwanese semiconductor firms to expand production in the U.S., prompting inquiries from some of GlobalWafers' clients about increased investments.
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. 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. The company has also applied for further support through the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit (AMIC) since October 2025, according to Hsu.
Hsu commented on the global semiconductor market, stating that 2026 is expected to be a promising year for the industry, with artificial intelligence continuing to drive growth. However, performance will vary across segments. GlobalWafers anticipates quarterly sales to rise throughout the year after bottoming out in the first quarter.
Following inventory adjustments in the global silicon wafer market in 2025, inventories have returned to healthy levels this year. The company expects to sign long-term supply contracts with customers in the second half of the year, Hsu noted.
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 mergers and acquisitions in recent years, the company has become the world's third-largest silicon wafer producer, operating 18 sites across nine countries.
In October 2025, GlobalWafers opened a 12-inch silicon wafer plant in Novara, northern Italy, marking the most advanced silicon wafer facility in the country to date.