SMIC narrows gap with Samsung as global foundry revenue hits record $53.49 billion
SMIC posted the strongest growth among the top three foundries in Q2 2026, with revenue surging 20% QoQ to more than USD 3 billion and market share edging up to 5.4% – closing in on Samsung Foundry's 5.9%. Combined revenue for the world's top ten foundries rose 11.5% to nearly USD 53.49 billion, a new record, according to TrendForce.
The narrowing gap between SMIC and Samsung is notable given the sustained US export restrictions on advanced chip-making equipment to China.
SMIC's growth was driven by advance procurement across consumer supply chains – particularly PCs and notebooks – alongside rising orders for AI peripheral ICs, server networking products and stronger foundry demand for NAND and NOR Flash amid widespread memory shortages, according to a press release from TrendForce.
Samsung Foundry, by contrast, posted only modest growth of 1.8% to USD 3.26 billion as new advanced-process orders including HBM base dies gradually ramped up. Its market share declined to 5.9% as competitors grew at a faster pace.
TSMC remained dominant with Q2 revenue of nearly USD 40.2 billion, up 12.1%, capturing a 72.5% market share. Strong AI server demand kept its 5/4nm and 3nm capacities fully booked, while 2nm contributed revenue for the first time. UMC ranked fourth at nearly USD 2.18 billion, up 12.7%, and GlobalFoundries fifth at approximately USD 1.79 billion, up 9.3%.
Looking ahead, TrendForce expects Q3 foundry revenue to rise further, supported by the seasonal smartphone ramp and growing production of next-generation AI and HPC platforms.
| Rank | Company | Revenue | Market share | |||
| 2Q26 | 1Q26 | QoQ | 2Q26 | 1Q26 | ||
| 1 | TSMC | 40,198 | 35,855 | 12.1% | 72.5% | 72.3% |
| 2 | Samsung | 3,260 | 3,201 | 1.8% | 5.9% | 6.5% |
| 3 | SMIC | 3,006 | 2,505 | 20.0% | 5.4% | 5.1% |
| 4 | UMC | 2,175 | 1,930 | 12.7% | 3.9% | 3.9% |
| 5 | GlobalFoundries | 1,786 | 1,634 | 9.3% | 3.2% | 3.3% |
| 6 | HuaHong Group | 1,274 | 1,230 | 3.5% | 2.3% | 2.5% |
| 7 | Tower | 460 | 414 | 11.2% | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| 8 | VIS | 451 | 396 | 13.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| 9 | Nexchip | 447 | 421 | 6.4% | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| 10 | PSMC | 432 | 386 | 11.9% | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Total top 10 | 53,488 | 47,972 | 11.5% | 96.5% | 96.8% | |
(in USD millions)
