TSMC rebuffs Samsung challenge to chip foundry dominance

Stellar financials keep Taiwan maker in top spot as contract chipmaker

Thanks to founder Morris Chang, TSMC stands head and shoulders above rivals, but that does not mean the chipmaker is resting on its laurels. © Reuters

KENSAKU IHARA and KOTARO HOSOKAWA, Nikkei staff writers

July 5, 2020 14:26 JST

TAIPEI/SEOUL -- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is the heavyweight champion of contract chipmaking. But the company, which controls half of the business worldwide, is now facing a serious challenge from Samsung Electronics, its archrival in South Korea.

Samsung is using its huge war chest to catch up on the next battleground: 5G, the next-generation mobile communication standard. But TSMC's lead may be insurmountable, given the stellar finance and business strategy of founder Morris Chang.