Core Insights - TSMC continues to dominate the global foundry market with a market share of 71% in Q2 2023, up from 68% in Q1 2023 and 65% year-over-year [1][3] - The overall pure foundry market sales increased by 33% year-over-year, driven by AI demand and subsidies from China, with TSMC capturing most of this growth [3] - Intel has announced the mass production of 1.8nm chips, marking a significant advancement in the competitive landscape of advanced chip manufacturing [5][6] Market Share and Competition - TSMC's market share growth is attributed to the ramp-up of 3nm production and high utilization rates of 4nm and 5nm processes to meet AI GPU demand [3] - Samsung Electronics holds the second position with an 8% market share, but has seen a decline of 1 percentage point from Q1 2023 and 2 percentage points year-over-year [3] - SMIC ranks third with a 5% market share, also down by 1 percentage point from the previous quarter, benefiting from Chinese government subsidies [3][4] Future Projections - The foundry market is expected to continue growing, with advanced process utilization and overall wafer shipments projected to rise in the second half of 2025 [4][7] - Credence Research forecasts the global foundry industry will grow from $125.56 billion in 2023 to $171.7 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 3.99% [8][10] Technological Advancements - Intel's new Panther Lake CPU architecture, based on the 18A process node, is set to be produced in Arizona and will be branded under the Intel Core Ultra series [5] - The industry is witnessing a shift towards advanced packaging technologies, such as CoWoS, to enhance chip design efficiency and performance [8][10] Government Influence - Governments in the US, China, and EU are providing substantial subsidies to promote local semiconductor manufacturing and reduce reliance on overseas foundries [9][10] - The European Chips Act aims to strengthen semiconductor projects in Germany, France, and Italy, particularly in automotive and industrial IoT applications [9][10]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the latest developments in 2nm semiconductor technology from major players like TSMC, Intel, and Samsung, highlighting their advancements and market strategies. TSMC Developments - TSMC is set to hold a ceremony for its 2nm expansion, marking a significant breakthrough in advanced process technology, with mass production expected in the second half of 2025 using Nanosheet transistor structure [3][4]. - TSMC's 2nm production facilities are planned in Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, with strong demand anticipated, particularly from Apple, AMD, and Intel, with orders already extending to 2027 [3][4]. - The 2nm process is expected to increase speed by 10-15% at the same power consumption and reduce power consumption by 25-30% at the same speed, with a density increase of over 15% [4][5]. Intel Developments - Intel plans to launch its 1.8nm technology, known as 18A, with mass production expected to begin in mid-2025, featuring significant performance improvements and density increases [7][8]. - The 18A process is designed to enhance performance per watt by 15% and increase chip density by 30%, with innovative PowerVia technology to improve power performance [8][9]. - Intel is also preparing a performance-enhanced version of 18A, which may attract external customers looking to maximize performance while minimizing power consumption [9]. Samsung Developments - Samsung is facing challenges with its 2nm GAA process, currently achieving a 30% yield rate, which must improve to at least 70% for broader customer orders [10][13]. - The company has secured orders for its 2nm process and aims to enhance its GAA technology, collaborating with Preferred Networks to develop AI accelerators [10][13]. - Future enhancements include the SF2P and SF2Z nodes, which will focus on improving power, performance, and area efficiency [14]. Other Industry Players - Japan's Rapidus is constructing a 2nm wafer fab, aiming for trial production in April 2025 and mass production by 2027, partnering with Quest Global Services for semiconductor solutions [17][18]. - The competition in advanced semiconductor processes is intensifying, with TSMC making strides towards 1.4nm technology, while Samsung and Intel are also advancing their respective nodes [18][19].