January 23, 2026 /SemiMedia/ — GlobalWafers is preparing to launch a second expansion phase at its silicon wafer plant in Texas, with the timing tied to customer commitments, chairwoman Doris Hsu said on Tuesday.

The Texas site is the company’s most advanced 300-millimeter, fully integrated silicon wafer facility and the first of its kind built in the United States in more than two decades. It is currently the only advanced silicon wafer manufacturing base in the country.

GlobalWafers announced in May 2025 that it would invest $3.5 billion to build a new wafer plant in Texas, with plans to add a further $4 billion in capital spending to meet rising demand from U.S. customers.

Silicon wafers are a core material in chip manufacturing, and larger 12-inch wafers are widely used in advanced production as they allow more chips to be made per wafer, helping reduce overall costs.

The company operates 18 manufacturing and operating sites across nine countries. In the United States, its production footprint includes facilities in Texas and Missouri. As the U.S. pushes to strengthen its domestic semiconductor supply chain, demand for locally produced silicon wafers is expected to continue growing.