Foundry

TSMC is expected to raise wafer prices in 2027, driven by rising production costs and strong demand for its 2-nanometer process technology. Reports suggest customers are weighing Samsung's foundry services as an alternative as the price increase approaches, highlighting growing pressure in the advanced chip manufacturing market.

TSMC is in early-stage talks with Elon Musk about a potential role in his planned Texas Terafab semiconductor foundry, according to a Times of Oman report. The discussions are still preliminary, and no agreement has been announced. The prospect of the world's largest chipmaker working with Musk's manufacturing project is drawing wide attention in the semiconductor industry.

Semiconductor foundry X-FAB has begun construction of a new cleanroom facility in Erfurt, Germany, with funding support from the European Chips Act. The project is part of efforts to expand European chip manufacturing capacity amid ongoing global supply concerns. Details on investment size and timelines were not specified in initial reports.

Robotics company Figure says it has trained its humanoid robots to jump into molten steel, a stunt highlighting the durability and control of its machines in extreme industrial environments. The demonstration, reported by Industrial Equipment News, is drawing attention to how far humanoid robots have progressed in handling conditions too dangerous for humans, including foundry and steel mill settings.

A comparison of Nvidia and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing asks which is the better technology stock to buy heading into 2026. Both companies sit at the center of the AI chip boom, with Nvidia designing leading processors and TSMC manufacturing them. Investors are weighing Nvidia's rapid growth against TSMC's broader foundry business, valuation levels, and exposure to surging demand for artificial intelligence hardware.

AMD chief executive Lisa Su has called on rival chipmakers to share semiconductor manufacturing capacity in Taiwan as demand for chips surges. Her appeal highlights growing pressure on the island's foundries, which produce most of the world's advanced processors, and underscores how tight supply has become across the industry amid booming AI and computing demand.

SpaceX is reportedly in talks with TSMC to build Terafab, a new semiconductor foundry, according to a Yahoo Finance report. If confirmed, the deal would mark a major move by Elon Musk's space company into chip manufacturing, a sector currently dominated by TSMC. Details on timing, investment size and location have not been disclosed.

Samsung has reportedly increased its chip prices, taking advantage of a capacity crunch at rival TSMC. Demand from major customers including Nvidia, Apple and Tesla is said to be fueling the price hikes, as companies compete for manufacturing capacity amid the ongoing AI-driven semiconductor boom. The report suggests foundry customers may be turning to Samsung as TSMC's lines fill up.