# Fabrication

Leading-edge chipmaking remains concentrated in allied foundries, while China is constrained by access to cutting-edge tools and yields at the smallest nodes.

**Measure:** Leading-Edge Node Capacity (<= 7nm equivalent)

**US & Allies Score:** 9.0/10  
**China Score:** 3.0/10  
**Leader:** US & Allies

## Key Metrics

- **Leading‑edge capacity:** Share (%) = (Leading‑edge wafer starts / Global leading‑edge wafer starts) × 100
- **Effective output:** Effective Output = Wafer starts × Good‑die yield × Die per wafer (at target performance bin)

## What matters in this layer

Frontier accelerators and high‑end CPUs are constrained by access to the best nodes and stable high yield. Concentration creates systemic risk: a single geography can determine global compute growth.

### Yield learning and ramp speed

The strategic advantage is how fast a fab can move from first silicon to high‑volume manufacturing. Tooling, metrology, and process discipline compound.

### Geopolitical concentration

When leading capacity is concentrated, disruption risk becomes a supply‑chain constraint. Resilience requires both geographic diversification and compatible equipment ecosystems.

> Next: we can attach the fabrication podium/wafer‑stack visualization as a dedicated page and link to it here.

**Related:** [Related: Critical Minerals](/layer/critical-minerals)

## Recent Developments

### TSMC Continues to Lead at the Frontier
*1 week ago | Foundry*

TSMC remains the dominant producer of leading-edge logic chips, with strong demand from AI accelerator vendors and hyperscalers.

### Intel Foundry Expands Advanced Packaging and Logic Roadmap
*2 weeks ago | Investment*

Intel is investing heavily in its foundry roadmap and advanced nodes, with an emphasis on US-based capacity and secure supply chains.

### SMIC Advances on Mature Nodes, Faces EUV Gap
*3 weeks ago | Constraints*

China's leading foundry continues to improve production on mature nodes and uses multi-patterning for smaller geometries, but remains limited by the EUV tool gap.

### Geopolitics Keeps Capacity a Strategic Asset
*1 month ago | Strategy*

Regional incentives and security concerns continue to drive new fab announcements and reshoring efforts across the US, Japan, and Europe.