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In the first quarter of 2026, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) recorded a market share of **** percent in the global semiconductor foundry market, while Samsung occupied *** percent of the market. In terms of revenue, the top ten semiconductor foundries worldwide generated  billion U.S. dollars in the fourth quarter of 2025. 

The semiconductor manufacturing process is complex

The semiconductor supply chain can be categorized into roughly three distinct stages: design, fabrication, and assembly. Companies that perform all three of these steps are referred to as integrated device manufacturers, with examples including Intel and Samsung. Firms that only design chips, known as fabless companies, rely on chip manufacturers, or foundries, for fabrication. 

A reliance on semiconductor foundries 

Fabless companies work closely with the foundries, companies that manufacture chips in fabrication plants, with the market leader TSMC contracted by various companies. Founded in 1987, TSMC decided not to manufacture any products under its name so that the company never engages in direct competition with its customers. Under this strategy, TSMC became the world9s largest semiconductor foundry and a key supplier for large tech companies.