Samsung could build a 5nm fabrication plant in Texas by 2024
Rumours from earlier this year suggested that Samsung was planning to build a 3nm fabrication plant in the continental United States. Samsung has zeroed in on Austin, Texas, for its new facility and has reportedly set aside US$18 billion for the endeavour. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to manufacture parts based on Samsung's 5nm EUV process.
Industry estimates (via ETNews) suggest that the construction should be complete by 2023 or 2024. Samsung already has a plant in Austin that manufactures 14nm parts. The company is expected to build the new 5nm fab in its vicinity. However, Samsung is yet to comment on the matter officially, and the aforementioned information comes from insiders familiar with the matter.
Samsung's decision to set up infrastructure in the United States mirrors arch-rival TSMC's plan to do the same. However, the Taiwanese chipmaker has loftier ambitions and plans on setting up six new plants in the country. TSMC's Arizona plant is expected to be fully operational around the same time as Samsung's Texas facility in 2024.
Industry leaders such as Apple and Intel may be well past 5nm-manufactured parts by 2024. Intel and Apple will reportedly start using parts made on TSMC's 3nm node, which is expected to start production sometime in H2, 2022. Then again, many OEMs still rely on older processes for their hardware. Easier availability of 5nm parts will still be a net positive for the industry in general.
