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While TSMC is ramping up its Arizona expansion amid Trump’s tariff push, rival Samsung appears to be slowing down. According to South Korean media outlet The Elec, Samsung has once again delayed its Taylor, Texas plant, now targeting a February 2027 launch.
Notably, this would not be Samsung’s first time to push back on the schedule. When the Taylor investment was announced in late 2021, production was set for 2024—but the timeline has been pushed back multiple times since, as per The Elec.
Instead of subsidy issues, the report attributes Samsung’s move to weak customer orders. Contractors have pulled out, and Samsung has slashed its on-site workforce to just a quarter of its original size, as noted by the report.
As per a previous SamMobile report, Samsung intended to produce 2nm and 3nm chips at its Taylor plant using gate-all-around (GAA) tech to challenge TSMC. Meanwhile, TSMC is expected to continue using EUV for 3nm and adopt GAA starting at 2nm, the report adds.
TSMC: Fast-tracking its 3rd Arizona Fab
On the other hand, in response to Trump’s latest round of chip duties, TSMC is reportedly ramping up its U.S. expansion to get ahead of any tariff fallout. According to the Economic Daily News, TSMC is fast-tracking construction of its third Arizona fab, with groundbreaking for Fab 21P now set for June.
The report notes this move puts TSMC at least a year ahead of schedule, and the foundry giant isn’t stopping there. The company is also reportedly urging supply chain partners to rush equipment deliveries and gearing up to break ground on an advanced packaging plant next.
According to Chairman C.C. Wei, TSMC’s U.S. capacity is fully booked through 2025 and 2026, with demand continuing into 2027. TSMC’s first Arizona fab has begun mass production of 4nm chips in 4Q24, while the second fab is expected to be operational by 2028, utilizing more advanced nodes such as 3nm, 2nm, and A16.
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(Photo credit: Samsung)
