TSMC is the Taiwanese chipmaker commonly ranked among the world’s largest companies by market capitalization.
TSMC stands for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Founded in 1987, it pioneered the dedicated semiconductor foundry model: it manufactures chips designed by other companies rather than primarily selling chips under its own consumer brand.
The company produces advanced processors for smartphones, personal computers, data centers, and artificial-intelligence systems. Its customers have included major chip designers such as Apple, AMD, and Nvidia. Demand for advanced manufacturing capacity has made TSMC particularly important to global technology supply chains.
TSMC’s market capitalization can rise or fall with semiconductor demand, production technology, geopolitical risk, and expectations for future earnings. It is distinct from Samsung Electronics, which both designs and manufactures a broader range of products, including memory chips and consumer electronics.