Vietnam’s Semiconductor Industry: Samsung Makes Further Inroads

Vietnam’s semiconductor trade is a platform to help and develop a number of different sub-industries and is an engine for Vietnam’s financial progress. The trade is estimated to achieve US$6.16 billion in worth by 2024 regardless that most manufacturing happens within the low-value a part of the worth chain. Vietnam Briefing analyzes the semiconductor trade in addition to the alternatives accessible for buyers.

Media stories not too long ago said that the world’s largest reminiscence chipmaker, Samsung will start making semiconductor elements in Vietnam in July 2023, additional diversifying its manufacturing because the US, China, and others search to diversify and hone expertise provide chains.

Samsung is now testing ball grid array merchandise and intends to mass produce them on the Samsung Electro-Mechanics Vietnam manufacturing unit in northern Thai Nguyen province. Earlier this 12 months, the South Korean large additionally poured one other US$920 million into its digital parts plant in Thai Nguyen.

Samsung, Vietnam’s largest overseas direct investor, first invested US$1.3 billion within the electro-mechanics unit in 2013, which produces mainboards and different digital parts. Final 12 months, the quantity climbed to US$18 billion. The electronics large additionally has six vegetation within the nation and is constructing a brand new analysis and improvement middle within the capital Hanoi.

Now semiconductors would mark the third enterprise for Samsung in Vietnam, the place the corporate makes dwelling home equipment and half of its smartphones.

Just lately, Filippo Bortoletti, Vietnam Nation Director at Dezan Shira & Associates supplied feedback on his views and evaluation of the trade.

In keeping with Filippo, the transfer of Samsung clearly means lots for the nation’s semiconductor trade, contemplating that beforehand different multinational enterprises solely had some semiconductor packaging and testing companies in Vietnam.

The truth that Samsung – one of many largest gamers within the international digital trade, selected Vietnam and the US for beginning the manufacturing of semiconductors, moderately than Japan, Europe, or another nation speaks volumes for Vietnam’s potential as an rising manufacturing hub and in addition the nation’s ambition to proceed rising within the forseeable future.

He additionally famous that the addition of the South Korean large is more likely to foster the event of semiconductors’ associated industries, in addition to push ahead the event of acceptable skillsets and experience inside the nation.

Samsung may even present Vietnam with cascade advantages within the upcoming years, as a number of new native companies and in addition massive overseas gamers could flourish within the upcoming years. This might give Vietnam an advantageous edge over different potential funding places.

Vietnam’s thriving semiconductor trade

Benefits

In keeping with Filippo, the principle benefits of Vietnam in creating the semiconductor trade are favorable demographics with comparatively low labor prices and human assets. Vietnam additionally boasts an formidable authorities that’s opening the nation to overseas commerce and funding and adapting the native authorized framework to worldwide practices, a rising – and prepared to study and enhance – an ecosystem of native entrepreneurs, and clear plans for the long run improvement trajectories of the nation.

As well as, the nation’s neutrality within the US-China commerce warfare, in addition to the Russia – Ukraine warfare, has additionally made it simpler for buyers to decide on a spot to provide and provide parts for different economies.

Disadvantages

Filippo additionally talked about key challenges that Vietnam could must face in creating the semiconductor trade. With a restricted – however growing – funds, the federal government ought to make sure the native infrastructure can accommodate extra enterprises with out clogs, streamline and simplify administrative procedures, enhance transparency, and proceed to replace its authorized framework to make sure truthful competitors.

On the similar time, the nation ought to prioritize enhancing the training system, making it accessible for constructing strong foundations for the progressive enchancment of native experience.  

What’s most noteworthy is that packaging and testing, the sector that Vietnam is most concerned in, is a low-margin a part of the semiconductor trade in comparison with the design and manufacturing of semiconductors. In reality, the principle subject which may forestall Vietnam to step up one other ladder within the worth chain lies within the excessive necessities for manufacturing infrastructure in addition to the robust experience of labor.

Filippo believes that Vietnam has all it takes to faucet into manufacturing, nevertheless, that is more likely to take a while and would additionally rely upon the political system to direct and help entrepreneurs, in addition to on the worldwide macroeconomic variables which may affect and reshape international provide.

Key gamers

Earlier than Samsung, Vietnam had Intel Merchandise Vietnam (IPV), the most important meeting and testing plant in Intel’s community. Final 12 months, Intel dedicated to spend US$475 million to construct a cutting-edge microelectronics testing and meeting facility in Vietnam. In the course of the international chip disaster, IPV maintained steady operations and made a number of progressive contributions to assist fill the semiconductor scarcity.

The complicated, inbuilt Vietnam, has obtained greater than US$1.5 billion over the previous 15 years from the parts trade large, which makes the manufacturing plant one in every of Intel’s largest factories. Given its goal to develop into the world’s foremost producer of digital parts, its direct investments can be greater than more likely to proceed for the foreseeable future.

Different chipmakers, together with Qualcomm, Texas Devices, SK Hynix, and NXP Semiconductors have additionally constructed analysis facilities and factories in Vietnam. These firms have laid the groundwork when it comes to manufacturing and logistics infrastructure in addition to analysis facilities, which in flip has made Vietnam a extra interesting vacation spot for follow-up funding within the trade.

Earlier final 12 months, Hayward Quartz Expertise, a big OEM provider, secured approval to assemble a US$110 million plant in Vietnam. As soon as up and operating, the location will make crystal silicon blocks, plastic polymers, and different supplies utilized in microelectronics fabrication.

That very same month, Pegatron, one in every of Apple’s EMS suppliers, spent US$22.9 million to purchase land in Vietnam. The company intends to speculate an extra US$1 billion to ascertain important manufacturing capability within the space. Foxconn and Wistron, two different Apple system assemblers, have deliberate to increase their regional footprints.

Outlook

The development of multinational companies diversifying and investing in nations apart from China is obvious and transversally includes all industries. On the whole, companies nonetheless need to preserve their operations in China however its zero covid technique and locked borders have compelled firms to diversify operations to alternate manufacturing hubs. Samsung’s funding in Vietnam is a transparent instance of this.

Subsequently, Vietnam’s proximity to China, low political threat, worldwide integration, accessible tax incentives, labor price, and demographics would proceed to make the nation a particularly interesting vacation spot.

In keeping with Filippo, the semiconductor trade can’t be thought of too completely different from different industries, and due to this fact Vietnam is more likely to enhance its competitiveness within the semiconductor trade within the coming years. The arrival of huge companies comparable to Samsung may even assist in establishing supporting industries offering additional progress and improvement within the nation.