April 3, 2023 Posted by Vietnam BriefingWritten by Uyen NguyenReading Time:
Vietnam is emerging as a notable player in semiconductor supply chains, providing a viable alternative to Taiwan, which has been the traditional hub for semiconductor manufacturing. Here’s how semiconductor manufacturing in Vietnam compares to Taiwan.
Taiwan is currently the world leader in semiconductor manufacturing. The total output value of Taiwan’s integrated chip (IC) industry reached US$145.7 billion in 2021 or about 15 percent of Taiwan’s GDP.
However, the heavy reliance on Taiwan for chip production has raised concerns about over-concentration, as well as geopolitical risks that may impact the industry’s sustainability.
As a result, industry experts have identified Vietnam as a promising alternative for future chip manufacturing projects. Suppliers of Dutch chip maker ASML, for instance, are reportedly exploring opportunities to diversify their operations out of China and into Southeast Asia, with Vietnam being a top candidate.
In this light, it has been suggested that Vietnam could be a key contender for future chip manufacturing projects. Suppliers of Dutch chip maker, ASML, for example, are reportedly looking at diversifying out of China and into Southeast Asia with Vietnam one country at the top of their list.
But how does Vietnam fare as a semiconductor manufacturer compared to Taiwan, the current world leader in this field?
Infrastructure and facilities
Vietnam has been investing heavily in infrastructure, including roads, ports, and airports, to support its growing semiconductor industry. The Vietnamese government has also been actively promoting investment in the sector, offering tax incentives and other benefits to companies that set up operations in the country.Moreover, Vietnam has been building more advanced facilities for semiconductor manufacturing, with several new projects planned or under construction. One of the largest semiconductor manufacturing plants in Vietnam is the Samsung Electronics facility in Ho Chi Minh City, which produces a wide range of products, including memory chips and displays.
Workforce and talent pool
Additionally, Vietnam has a lower cost of living compared to Taiwan, making it cheaper to set up factories in the country. It also has a large pool of young, educated, and skilled workers, which is essential for the semiconductor industry.
Vietnam has invested billions of dollars in setting up research and education centers to train workers in order to attract major chip manufacturers.
More than 40 percent of Vietnam’s college and university graduates specialize in science and engineering, representing a significant proportion of the labor force. This demographic advantage is reflected in Vietnam’s ranking among the top 10 countries in terms of the number of engineering graduates.
Vietnam has benefited from a lower cost of living and the presence of major multinational corporations in the semiconductor industry, allowing it to attract talent from around the world. This influx of skilled workers has helped the industry grow and expand rapidly.
Meanwhile, Taiwan boasts a rich history in the semiconductor industry, with a highly skilled workforce developed over many years. It also has a well-established system for training and educating semiconductor engineers and technicians, and a strong tradition of innovation and entrepreneurship in this field. However, this expertise comes with a higher cost, as wages in Taiwan are significantly higher than those in Vietnam.
Government support and policies
Both Vietnam and Taiwan have implemented policies and provided government support to foster the growth of their semiconductor industries.Vietnam’s government has introduced various measures to attract investment and support the development of this industry. For instance, businesses investing in the sector can enjoy exemptions from land and water surface rents, or a reduction of up to 50 percent in centralized high-tech parks.
Additionally, companies investing in socio-economically deprived areas are exempt from land and water surface rents for the duration of their lease.
The Vietnamese government’s focus on digital transformation is a key driver for the growth and development of the semiconductor chip industry. The government has recognized the importance of this industry in achieving its long-term goal of becoming a digital economy and has implemented various policies and initiatives to that effect.
Similarly, the Taiwanese government has invested heavily in the semiconductor industry, recognizing it as a crucial driver of economic growth.
Taiwan’s government has established policies and programs aimed at developing the industry, such as the “five plus two” innovative industries plan, which includes the “Asian Silicon Valley” project. This aims to promote the development of high-tech industries on the island. Taiwan’s government has also provided support for the development of the semiconductor industry through investment incentives, tax credits, and subsidies.
Investment and Funding
Vietnam’s semiconductor industry is still in its early stages, and the country is lagging behind Taiwan in terms of investment and funding. However, Vietnam has shown a willingness to invest in the industry and has implemented policies to attract foreign investment.Vietnam’s government has set up various funds to support the development of the semiconductor industry. For instance, the National Technology Innovation Fund (NATIF) was established to provide funding for research and development activity. The country also has the Vietnam-Korea IT Incubator (VKII) to provide funding and support for start-ups in the semiconductor industry.
Geographical location
Vietnam is strategically located in the center of Southeast Asia, making it an ideal location for manufacturers looking to enter the region’s fast-growing semiconductor market.Vietnam’s location provides it with easy access to the world’s leading semiconductor supply chains, which run through China, Japan, and South Korea. In contrast, Taiwan, as an island in the Pacific, requires more expensive shipping and logistics to get its chips where they need to go.
Furthermore, Vietnam has made significant investments in building up its transportation infrastructure, such as ports, highways, and airports, to improve the connectivity of its manufacturing hubs with the rest of the world.
Raw materials for chip production
In terms of the supply chain of materials for chip production, Vietnam’s chip makers still heavily rely on imported materials from other countries.Only two domestic enterprises, namely VHT and FPT, are involved in chip design, while the majority of companies working on the IC design, assembly, and testing phases are foreign-invested enterprises. Taiwan, on the other hand, has a more integrated supply chain formed by industrial clusters surrounding Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), its biggest chip manufacturer.
Yet Vietnam is also making significant progress in building a domestic supply chain for its semiconductor industry. The government has implemented policies to attract investment in supporting industries for chip production, such as the production of electronic components and materials.
In addition, Vietnam has signed several free trade agreements that reduce trade barriers and facilitate the import and export of the raw materials and goods needed for chip production.
Moreover, Vietnam has abundant natural resources and raw materials, such as silica sand and an abundance of rare earths. This provides a unique advantage for Vietnam to develop a more integrated supply chain.
Significant players in Taiwan’s semiconductor chip industry
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)
According to a report published by IC Insights in late 2021, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is the top-ranked semiconductor manufacturer in Taiwan. This company accounted for 50 percent of the total value of chips produced among the top 10 companies in Taiwan. TSMC is also the third-largest semiconductor manufacturer globally, trailing only Samsung in South Korea and Intel in the United States.
MediaTek
The second-largest semiconductor company in Taiwan is MediaTek, which ranked ninth among the top 10 semiconductor companies worldwide in 2021.
ASE Group
ASE Group is the third-largest semiconductor manufacturer in Taiwan. ASE owns two leading packaging and testing manufacturers, ASE and SPIL, with a combined global market share of over 30 percent.
Significant players in Vietnam’s semiconductor chip industry
The establishment of Factory Z181 in Vietnam in 1979 marked the beginning of IC manufacturing. However, the factory ceased operations in the early 1990s.
Recently, Viettel Hi-Tech Industry Corporation and FPT Semiconductor have started participating in the production and design of some microchips, which are used in medical electronics and telecommunications. Around 30 foreign-invested enterprises are also engaged in the IC assembly, testing, and design phases.
Challenges for chip manufacturers in Taiwan
Morris Chang, the founder of TSMC, says that Taiwan is the only place where the company can produce high-end chips due to various factors, such as exceptional talent, technology, and corporate culture.However, TSMC’s advanced process chips are expensive, and with TSMC’s pursuit of advanced manufacturing processes, the cost of chip production has rapidly increased.
In 2020, TSMC reported that its capital expenditure would rise to US$28 billion in 2021, with 80 percent being used for research and development of advanced manufacturing processes. This leaves less funding for infrastructure construction and talent recruitment.
Furthermore, foreign investors currently hold over 80 percent of the TSMC’s shares. This could affect the company’s autonomy and decision making, especially in the context of tense international economic and trade relations.
Challenges for chip manufacturers in Vietnam
According to Dezan Shira and Associates Country Director Filippo Bortoletti, Vietnam faces a number of challenges developing its semiconductor industry.Vietnam is currently mostly involved with the semiconductor industry’s low-margin packaging and testing sector. This may limit its ability to climb up the value chain to enter the semiconductor design and manufacturing field, which require specialized labor and manufacturing infrastructure.
But Bortoletti says that Vietnam still has the potential to become a semiconductor manufacturing hub. It will just take some time. He says this will depend on the government’s support for entrepreneurs and favorable global macroeconomic conditions that influence and reshape global supply chains.
Vietnam is cheaper, but Taiwan has more experience
Taiwan has been a world leader in chip manufacturing for a long time but there are signs that change is afoot. As trade tensions rise between China and its key markets and major chip makers look to diversify their supply chains, alternatives are currently being sought and at the end of the day,Vietnam is an excellent option.With its low-cost labor, government support, and strategic location, Vietnam is well placed to support chip makers looking to diversify into Southeast Asia more broadly.
Semiconductor Manufacturing in Vietnam vs Taiwan
Semiconductor manufacturing in Vietnam is emerging as an alternative to making chips in Taiwan. Here's how these two locations compare.