Semiconductor Market Share by Country: Top 5

In this article we talk about 5 biggest countries in the semiconductor industry. If you want to check out how supply chains in the industry were disrupted during the pandemic, please go to Semiconductor Market Share by Country: Top 12.

5. China

Number of fabrication plants: 70

China remains one of the largest markets for semiconductors, with sales there totaling $180.4 billion in 2022, a YoY decrease of 6.2%. China, striving to lead the global pack in artificial intelligence and quantum computing, is banking heavily on a steady supply of semiconductors to hit that goal. The catch, though, is that the US sanctions on semiconductor exports to China are putting a serious squeeze on that supply. 

Despite the hurdles, China’s top chip player, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC), pulled in a record revenue in 2022, hitting $7.2 billion, a solid 34% jump from the previous year. The US threw a wrench into China’s semiconductor plans by cranking up restrictions on exports last year. The goal was clear – to put the brakes on China’s AI ambitions and throw a curveball into its chip-making progress. These restrictions not only impacted US companies but also roped in allies like the Netherlands and Japan, preventing them from supplying machines, tools, and personnel to China.