SMIC
SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation) is China's largest semiconductor foundry, providing 28nm and 14nm wafer fabrication services primarily to Chinese fabless chip designers and domestic electronics companies, backed by state capital and designated a national pillar industry.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersClarksville, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What SMIC does
SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation) is China's largest semiconductor foundry, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Shanghai. It is publicly traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (0981.HK) and Shanghai Stock Exchange (688981.SS), operating as an independent corporation without a disclosed parent company. The company's core technology is wafer fabrication at the 28nm and 14nm process nodes, with manufacturing capacity and qualifications serving as the central technical asset.
SMIC operates as a pure-play foundry, selling manufacturing capacity to fabless customers under direct B2B commercial relationships. Its primary served segment is Chinese semiconductor designers (including HiSilicon), with downstream use cases spanning AI, consumer electronics, and automotive chips, alongside domestic Chinese electronics companies more broadly. Pricing for foundry services is not publicly disclosed. SMIC's business model is anchored in a horizontal segmentation approach, with the company providing manufacturing capacity rather than finished products, and revenue scales with wafer volume, mix, and yield across its nodes.
Strategically, SMIC has been designated a Chinese government "pillar industry" with sustained subsidies and capital backing, including through the Big Fund III $47.5 billion state investment vehicle. The company is central to China's chip self-reliance initiative, evidenced by core partnerships with SMEE on lithography and NAURA on deposition equipment (>60% oxidation furnace share on 28nm lines), targeting 70% domestic equipment localization by 2027. It is also subject to escalating U.S. export controls on semiconductor equipment, intensifying the localization imperative and creating both moat and risk. The firm also faces sanctions-related headwinds: it has been alleged to have supplied chipmaking tools and technical training to Iran's military, raising potential further regulatory exposure.
SMIC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SMIC
- Legal name
- Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation
- Website
- https://smicservices.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation) is China's largest semiconductor foundry, providing 28nm and 14nm wafer fabrication services primarily to Chinese fabless chip designers and domestic electronics companies, backed by state capital and designated a national pillar industry.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SMIC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Semiconductor Foundry Services
- NAICS
- Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413), Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (3344)
- SIC
- Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Logic Foundries (Advanced Nodes) (HDAHACAA)
Keywords
Where SMIC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Clarksville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
SMIC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel
Distribution channels1 record
SMIC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SMIC is a semiconductor foundry that fabricates integrated circuits on contract for fabless chip designers and electronics companies. Its production focuses on 28nm and 14nm process nodes and is progressively integrating domestic Chinese chipmaking equipment to localize the supply chain.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 28nm Wafer Fabrication Services Contract foundry manufacturing of integrated circuits at the 28nm semiconductor process node for Chinese fabless chip designers and electronics OEMs, with NAURA oxidation furnaces accounting for over 60% of the production-line equipment share.
- 14nm Wafer Fabrication Services Advanced-node contract wafer fabrication at 14nm for Chinese semiconductor designers, supporting more demanding compute and AI workloads where domestic capacity is permitted.
Companies that use SMIC
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
SMIC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
SMIC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NAURA Technology GroupcoreNAURA's oxidation furnaces hold over 60% share on SMIC's 28nm production lines, providing critical deposition equipment for domestic chip manufacturing.
- SMEEcoreSMEE is at the forefront of China's lithography development efforts, working with SMIC to develop domestic alternatives to ASML equipment under the 70% localization target by 2027.
- HiSiliconcoreSMIC and HiSilicon are leading China's chip self-reliance push, with HiSilicon serving as a key customer driving advanced chip development.
- Iran's Militaryminor
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SMIC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- NAURA Technology Group: NAURA is a leading Chinese semiconductor equipment supplier and SMIC's core domestic equipment partner, holding over 60% share on SMIC's 28nm oxidation furnace lines. It is critical to SMIC's supply chain localization efforts.
- ASML Holding: ASML is the dominant global supplier of advanced lithography equipment, currently the central bottleneck for SMIC's advanced node ambitions. SMIC's strategic vulnerability and localization urgency is defined by its relationship with ASML.
- Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment (SMEE): SMEE is China's primary domestic lithography equipment developer and a core strategic partner of SMIC. SMEE's progress toward producing domestic DUV lithography alternatives is central to SMIC's localization roadmap and 2027 targets.
- HiSilicon (Huawei): HiSilicon is Huawei's in-house chip design arm and a key SMIC customer, anchoring demand for advanced process nodes. Its own fabless model makes HiSilicon the principal captive demand source for SMIC's most strategic wafer capacity.
Direct peers
- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC): TSMC is the world's largest semiconductor foundry and SMIC's principal global competitor. Both offer contract manufacturing for fabless chip designers across logic nodes, but TSMC operates at significantly more advanced nodes and serves a more globally diversified customer base.
- United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC): UMC is a Taiwan-based pure-play foundry focused on mature and specialty nodes, directly comparable to SMIC in customer type and process technology positioning. UMC represents the alternative global foundry capacity outside TSMC and Samsung.
- GlobalFoundries: GlobalFoundries is a U.S.-headquartered foundry focused on mature and specialty nodes (FDX, RF, automotive). It competes with SMIC for foundry customers in the same process node ranges and end markets.
- Samsung Foundry: Samsung's foundry division competes with SMIC at advanced logic nodes, particularly serving fabless customers seeking leading-edge capacity outside Taiwan. It is one of only three foundries worldwide operating leading-edge logic processes.
- Hua Hong Semiconductor: Hua Hong is a Shanghai-headquartered pure-play Chinese foundry, the most direct domestic competitor to SMIC. Both serve Chinese fabless designers and operate primarily at mature-to-mid-range nodes with similar customer profiles.
Emerging players
- Intel Foundry Services: Intel's foundry business is ramping its external foundry offering as a direct competitor to SMIC for advanced logic manufacturing. While still scaling, it represents a credible Western alternative for fabless customers seeking capacity outside Taiwan.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SMIC social profiles
Digital presenceSMIC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SMIC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
SMIC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SMIC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SMIC
What does SMIC do?
SMIC is a semiconductor foundry that fabricates integrated circuits on contract for fabless chip designers and electronics companies. Its production focuses on 28nm and 14nm process nodes and is progressively integrating domestic Chinese chipmaking equipment to localize the supply chain.
Is SMIC a public or private company?
SMIC is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was SMIC founded?
SMIC was founded in 2000. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is SMIC based?
SMIC is headquartered in Clarksville, United States, in the North America region.
Who are SMIC's main competitors?
Others on record are NAURA Technology Group, ASML Holding, Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment (SMEE) and HiSilicon (Huawei). Direct peers are Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), GlobalFoundries, Samsung Foundry and Hua Hong Semiconductor. Intel Foundry Services is listed as an emerging player.
Does SMIC have an API?
No public API is recorded for SMIC.
What industry is SMIC in?
SMIC's product category is Semiconductor Foundry Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHACAA, Logic Foundries (Advanced Nodes). Its NAICS code is 334413 and its SIC code is 3674.