Silicon Analysts

Fab Capacity Utilization

Newest print Jul 2026Reviewed quarterlyCSV — newest observations; full series with a Pro keyAPI

UMC Mature (>14nm): 85% (Q2 2026) — UMC Q2 2026 results release, Jul 2026 (confirmed). Basis: derived ratio. +7.6% vs Q1 2026.

Fab Capacity Utilization — latest readings

23 observations across 4 series, Q1 2022–Q3 2026.

Latest freely available reading for each series in Fab Capacity Utilization, with its basis, source and date
SeriesLatest (%)Source
Samsung FoundryQ1 202665%Our model estimateSilicon Analysts modelMar 2026
TSMC Leading Edge (≤7nm)2024100%TSMC Annual Report 2024Feb 2025
UMC Mature (>14nm)Q2 202685%UMC Q2 2026 results releaseJul 2026
TSMC Mature (≥14nm)H1 2025 (TSMC mature)72%TSMC Q1 2025 earnings / Silicon AnalystsMar 2026

TSMC, UMC, and Samsung foundry utilization rates quarterly from Q1 2022 through Q1 2026. Shows the two-speed recovery: leading-edge at 100% vs mature nodes declining. Samsung foundry series tracks the yield crisis and customer defections to TSMC.

UMC Mature (>14nm): 85% (Q2 2026), UMC Q2 2026 results release, Jul 2026

2022–2024: 11 earlier prints — full ledger is Pro

  1. 1Q3 2022 — Samsung SF4 Yield Crisis: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 yield problems trigger Samsung foundry utilization collapse and customer defections to TSMC
  2. 2Q2 2023 — AI Saves Leading Edge: 5nm back to full utilization led by AI orders while mature nodes crater to 65–75%.
  3. 3Q2 2023 — Samsung Foundry Losses Peak: Samsung foundry division reports operating losses; utilization at 48-55%, lowest since 2019
Press / analyst printSilicon Analysts modelLow confidence

Source: Deep Research, SemiAnalysis, TSMC Annual Report 2024, Samsung investor day / analyst estimates Q2 2024, Industry estimates Q4 2024, UMC Q1 2025 earnings / Silicon Analysts and 4 more · Basis: derived ratio · Anonymous view: the newest 2–3 observations per series (May 2023–May 2026); 11 earlier prints back to 2022 — full ledger is Pro.

Prints ledger

Prints ledger: every observation in this dataset with its period, value, basis, type, confidence and source
Note and copy
Q2 2026UMC Mature (>14nm)85%
Q1 2026UMC Mature (>14nm)79%
Q1 2026Samsung FoundryOur model estimate65%58%–72%
H1 2025 (TSMC mature)TSMC Mature (≥14nm)72%68%–76%
H1 2025UMC Mature (>14nm)68%
Q4 2024Samsung Foundry60%55%–68%
Q2 2024Samsung Foundry55%50%–62%
2024 (TSMC mature)TSMC Mature (≥14nm)70%65%–75%
2024TSMC Leading Edge (≤7nm)100%
H2 2023TSMC Leading Edge (≤7nm)100%
Q2 2023TSMC Leading Edge (≤7nm)90%
Samsung Foundry: 4 earlier prints, Q1 2022–Q4 2023 — full ledger is Pro
TSMC Leading Edge (≤7nm): 3 earlier prints, Q3 2022–Q1 2023 — full ledger is Pro
UMC Mature (>14nm): 4 earlier prints, Q3 2022–2024 and 1 projection (Q3 2026) — full ledger is Pro
Showing the newest 2–3 observations per series (Q2 2023–Q2 2026); 11 earlier observations (Q1 2022–2024) and 1 projection are in Pro.

Provenance

Sources: TSMC quarterly earnings transcripts, SemiAnalysis earnings analysis, Deep Research (120 sources). Note: foundries do not disclose exact utilization by node; figures are analyst estimates from wafer shipment and revenue data.

Basis: derived ratio

Analyst estimate derived from reported wafer shipments and revenue. Foundries do not disclose utilization by node; these are not company-reported figures.

Sources

  • Industry estimates Q1 2022 (Mar 2022)
  • DigiTimes / analyst estimates Q3 2022 (Sep 2022)
  • SemiAnalysis (Jan 2023)
  • Deep Research (120 sources) (Mar 2026)
  • UMC earnings / Silicon Analysts (Mar 2026)
  • SemiAnalysis (Apr 2023)
  • Samsung Q2 2023 earnings (Jul 2023)
  • UMC earnings / industry reports (Mar 2026)
  • Samsung Q4 2023 earnings (Jan 2024)
  • TSMC Annual Report 2024 (Feb 2025)
  • Samsung investor day / analyst estimates Q2 2024 (Jun 2024)
  • Industry estimates Q4 2024 (Dec 2024)
  • UMC Q1 2025 earnings / Silicon Analysts (Mar 2026)
  • TSMC Q1 2025 earnings / Silicon Analysts (Mar 2026)
  • UMC Q1 2026 results release (Apr 2026)
  • UMC Q2 2026 results release (Jul 2026)

Our derivations

  • Silicon Analysts estimate Mar 2026 (Mar 2026)

Suggested citation

Silicon Analysts, "Fab Capacity Utilization", as of Jul 2026, https://siliconanalysts.com/market-data/fab-utilization, retrieved November 1, 2026.

API: /api/v1/market-data/fab-utilizationCSVLicence

Data sparse before 2022: public pricing data for this category is limited prior to the AI demand inflection; points before 2022 are single-source estimates and should be treated as directional only.

Showing the newest 2–3 observations per series (Q2 2023–Q2 2026); 11 earlier observations (Q1 2022–2024) and 1 projection are in Pro.

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Samsung to Use TSMC 3nm for Base Dies of Nvidia Custom HBM

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is current semiconductor fab utilization?
TSMC fab utilization recovered to approximately 90% by Q1 2025, up from the cyclical trough of roughly 70% in Q2 2023. Advanced nodes (3nm, 5nm) run at near-100% utilization while mature nodes (28nm+) remain around 60–70%.
Why did fab utilization drop in 2023?
The 2023 utilization downturn was caused by post-COVID inventory correction in consumer electronics (PCs, smartphones), coinciding with the DRAM/NAND price crash. AI demand partially offset this at leading-edge nodes, but mature nodes saw severe underutilization.