TSMC widens lead over Samsung in foundry business

TSMC headquarters in Hsinchu AFP-Yonhap — TSMC headquarters in Hsinchu, Taiwan/ AFP-Yonhap

SEOUL, September 02 (AJP) - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company tightened its grip on the global chipmaking business in the second quarter of 2025, surpassing 70 percent market share and leaving rivals, including Samsung Electronics, further behind, according to new industry data.

Worldwide foundry revenue reached a record $41.7 billion in the quarter, up 14.6 percent from the previous three months, research firm TrendForce reported Monday.

TSMC accounted for 70.2 percent of the total, an increase from 67.6 percent in the first quarter, aided by rising demand for artificial intelligence processors, smartphones and notebook computers, as well as higher average selling prices.

Samsung, the second-largest contract chipmaker, slipped to 7.3 percent of the market from 7.7 percent in the prior quarter. That left the gap between TSMC and Samsung at nearly 63 percentage points, up from about 60 points three months earlier.

China’s Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, the third-largest player, fell to a 5.1 percent share from 6 percent. TrendForce attributed the decline to shipment delays and weaker prices, even as Beijing’s subsidies and U.S. tariffs encouraged more domestic chip demand.

The strong overall growth reflected a wave of inventory building in China, spurred by consumer subsidy programs, and anticipation of new smartphones, laptops and servers set to launch in the second half of the year.

Samsung continued to benefit from smartphone orders and production of the Nintendo Switch 2, but those gains were not enough to narrow the gap with its Taiwanese rival.

Candice Kim candicekim1121@ajupress.com