[News] Taiwan’s Second Largest Foundry UMC Reportedly Denies Plans to Build a Fab in the U.S.

---

---

As TSMC’s Arizona fab aims to start mass production in early 2025, whether United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), another foundry giant in Taiwan, will follow suit attracts widespread attention. However, according to the latest report from the Central News Agency, the company has no plans to build a plant in the U.S. currently.

Earlier in November, the Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), Raymond Greene, paid a visit to UMC. The information was shared on AIT’s Facebook, while rumors have been circulating that the purpose of the visit was to encourage UMC to set up a plant in the U.S.

However, UMC told Central News Agency today that Greene’s visit was a routine meeting, and it declined to comment on the details of the discussion. Currently, the company has no plans to build a factory in the U.S., as per the report.

Notably, UMC’s focus in the U.S. is primarily on its collaboration with Intel, as noted by Central News Agency. UMC and Intel jointly announced in January that they will collaborate on the development of a 12nm process platform to address high-growth markets such as mobile, communication infrastructure and networking.

The node is expected to be developed and manufactured at Intel’s Ocotillo Technology Fabrication facilities in Arizona, specifically in Fabs 12, 22, and 32. Production is expected to begin in 2027, according to UMC’s press release.

Read more

• [News] UMC Reportedly Wins Qualcomm Advanced Packaging Deal, Breaking TSMC’s Monopoly

(Photo credit: AIT)