GlobalWafers to Launch First U.S. 12-Inch Silicon Wafer Fab on May 15

May 13, 2025 — GlobalWafers, the world’s third-largest semiconductor wafer supplier, is set to officially open its new state-of-the-art facility in Texas on May 15, marking a historic milestone as the first 12-inch silicon wafer production plant in the United States. The new factory is expected to begin contributing to the company’s revenue in the second half of 2025.

Located in the heart of Texas, the plant will strengthen the domestic semiconductor supply chain by introducing large-scale production of advanced 300mm (12-inch) silicon wafers — a critical substrate material used in both cutting-edge and mature semiconductor process nodes.

The launch of this facility comes at a crucial time when the U.S. is striving to regain semiconductor manufacturing leadership. GlobalWafers emphasized that beginning in 2025, the U.S. will re-enter the advanced wafer manufacturing landscape after more than two decades of reliance on overseas sources.

The Texas facility — operated by GlobalWafers America (GWA) and MEMC LLC — is strategically positioned to fill critical gaps in the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem. Silicon wafers form the foundational platform upon which all semiconductor chips are built, and 12-inch wafers are particularly vital for foundries and integrated device manufacturers (IDMs) producing advanced processors, memory chips, and various logic devices.

Currently, over 80% of the global 12-inch wafer market is dominated by the top five manufacturers, with GlobalWafers being a key player among them.

In a significant boost to the company’s U.S. operations, the U.S. Department of Commerce has approved up to $406 million in direct funding under the CHIPS Act’s Commercial Fabrication Facilities Program. The funding will support both the Texas plant and another facility in Missouri, together expected to generate more than 2,000 new jobs across both states.