GlobalWafers Prepares Phase Two Expansion at Texas Wafer Plant, Chairperson Says

Taiwan’s GlobalWafers said it is preparing for a second-phase expansion at its silicon wafer plant in Sherman, Texas, as growing U.S. demand drives renewed investment in reshoring key parts of the semiconductor supply chain.

Chairperson Doris Hsu said on Wednesday that the company is making early preparations for “phase two” at the Texas site, which would involve additional investment and capacity once customer commitments are secured.

“Phase one may not be sufficient,” Hsu said, adding that the facility serves multiple customers and demand for increased wafer supply is rising. She said GlobalWafers is designing the expansion now in order to shorten timelines once the next round of orders is confirmed.

U.S. wafer supply becomes strategic bottleneck

Silicon wafers — large, ultra-pure discs used as the base material for manufacturing chips — are a critical but often overlooked component of semiconductor supply chains. The U.S. has pushed to strengthen domestic capacity across chips, materials and upstream production in response to geopolitical risks and supply disruption concerns.

The Texas facility is part of GlobalWafers’ broader strategy to expand its manufacturing footprint in the United States to serve customers building or expanding local chip production.

Phase one sets foundation for further expansion

GlobalWafers’ first-phase investment in Texas has positioned the company as one of the major players in U.S. wafer manufacturing, as chipmakers and suppliers accelerate domestic investment.

Hsu said the company’s next phase would be driven by customer demand and long-term volume commitments, with GlobalWafers aiming to meet rising requirements from the growing U.S. semiconductor ecosystem.

Summary

Taiwan’s GlobalWafers is preparing for a phase two expansion at its Texas silicon wafer plant, Chairperson Doris Hsu said, citing increasing customer demand. The company is designing the next-stage buildout to shorten timelines once firm commitments are secured, as wafer supply becomes a strategic part of the U.S. push to strengthen semiconductor manufacturing capacity.

Why This Matters

• Wafers are a critical chokepoint: Chips can’t be made without wafers, making upstream materials capacity strategically important.
• Reshoring goes beyond fabs: Semiconductor supply chain localisation increasingly includes wafers, chemicals, gases and equipment.
• Multi-year demand visibility: Expansion decisions reflect long-term confidence in U.S. chip ecosystem buildout.
• More supply chain investment ahead: Phase two planning signals continued capital deployment in U.S. semiconductor materials.

FAQs

Q1: What does GlobalWafers make at the Texas site?

Silicon wafers — the base material used in semiconductor chip manufacturing.

Q2: What is the “phase two” expansion?

A planned next-stage capacity increase at the Sherman, Texas plant, expected to proceed once customer commitments are secured.

Q3: Why does the U.S. need domestic wafer production?

Wafers are a foundational input for semiconductors. Local wafer capacity strengthens supply chain resilience and reduces dependency on overseas production.

Q4: Is the expansion confirmed?

The company said it is preparing designs and early planning for the next phase, with timelines dependent on orders and long-term customer commitments.

Q5: What does this signal for the broader chip sector?

It indicates that U.S. semiconductor investment is expanding beyond chip fabrication into upstream materials — a key part of building a full domestic ecosystem.