UMC to invest $6.4 billion in Singapore semiconductor manufacturing facility

United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), one of the world's leading independent semiconductor manufacturers, announced plans to establish a new fabrication plant in Singapore with an investment of $6.4 billion. The project underscores the company's strategic push to strengthen its manufacturing capabilities in the region amid surging global demand for semiconductors powering artificial intelligence applications.

The new fab will represent a significant expansion of UMC's presence in Singapore, reinforcing the city-state's position as a key hub for semiconductor manufacturing in Southeast Asia. The investment aligns with broader industry trends as chipmakers seek to diversify production away from Taiwan and establish resilient supply chains across multiple geographic locations.

To support the facility's operations, UMC plans to substantially increase its workforce in Singapore. The company intends to double its skilled employee base from approximately 1,200 staff members currently, signalling a major boost to local employment and engineering talent requirements in the semiconductor sector.

The project comes as global semiconductor manufacturers race to meet unprecedented demand for chips used in artificial intelligence systems, data centres, and advanced computing applications. UMC's investment demonstrates confidence in Singapore's semiconductor ecosystem, skilled workforce, and stable business environment, positioning the island as an increasingly important manufacturing destination for the global chip industry.