Special report | Semiconductors

Taiwan’s dominance of the chip industry makes it more important

No industry matters more to Taiwan than chipmaking

A staff walks in the lobby of the headquarter of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) in Hsinchu, Taiwan, February 16, 2023
Image: I-Hwa Cheng

They are the chips that power everything from mobile phones to electric cars—and they make up 15% of Taiwan’s GDP.  Taiwan produces over 60% of the world’s semiconductors and over 90% of the most advanced ones. Most are manufactured by a single company, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC). Until now, the most advanced have been made only in Taiwan.

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This article appeared in the Special report section of the print edition under the headline “Chips with everything”

From the March 11th 2023 edition

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