À̹ÌÁö È®´ë [Graphics by Song Ji-yoon]
Samsung Electronics Co. may increase outsourcings some of general-purpose computer chips to Taiwan-based UMC and California-based GlobalFoundaries as it runs out of space at its own foundries due to explosive demand.
According to industry sources on Thursday, Samsung Electronics¡¯ in-house system LSI division recently agreed to source its CMOS image sensors for smartphone cameras from UMC. Outsourcing of semiconductors is unusual to the world¡¯s No. 1 memory chip maker, which launched its own foundry business in the mid-2000s. UMC will soon mass produce chips using 28nm process technology for Samsung Electronics.
An industry source said Samsung Electronics began to respond to a shortage of semiconductor facilities late last year by starting a collaboration with UMC, and the South Korean chip giant will increase outsourcing for general-purpose semiconductors such as display driver integrated circuits mounted on TVs.
The company may also enter a consignment agreement with GlobalFoundries, a foundry spun off from U.S. chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices who once worked with Samsung Electronics in 2014 on the transfer of 14nm process technology.
À̹ÌÁö È®´ë Another industry source said Samsung Electronics may leave a considerable part of its general-purpose semiconductors to other external companies that could include Taiwan¡¯s TSMC, the world¡¯s No. 1 foundry company.
Amid the supply shortage, the Korean semiconductor industry is also rushing to carry out massive facility investment projects to prepare for another super-cycle in the market.
Samsung Electronics is considering Austin, Texas, as one of the sites for a new $17 billion 3-nm chip plant. SK Hynix recently completed a new production line at Icheon, Gyeonggi, where new 10nm DRAM chips will be rolled out using EUV light exposure equipment from ASML.
A shortage of semiconductors is delaying production lines at global car manufacturers and game console makers among others as the shift to working from home has created a surge in demand for electronics.
On Friday, Samsung Electronics shares ended 3.3 percent lower at 82,500 won($73.40) and SK Hynix 4.7 percent lower at 141,500 won.
By Lee Jong-hyuk and Minu Kim
[¨Ï Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]