TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Chip substrate and printed circuit board maker Unimicron is betting big on AI and expanding in Southeast Asia in the face of US tariffs.
Unimicron Chair Tseng Tzu-chang (曾子章) said at a media briefing on Monday that no immediate customer order shifts have been seen, but acknowledged growing risks tied to US-China tensions, Nikkei Asia reported.
Unimicron, a key supplier to Nvidia, Intel, and Apple, has considered investing in the US, though Tseng cited the lack of a supporting supply chain and customer base as reasons for holding back.
The AI boom has fueled demand for Unimicron’s high-end chip substrates and PCBs, especially for AI data centers. The company’s most advanced facilities remain in Taoyuan, but it is ramping up overseas production, with its first plant in Thailand set to begin mass production in the second half of 2025.
Initially focused on PCBs for game consoles and satellites, the Thailand plant could eventually produce chip substrates if requested by customers. Unimicron has secured land to build up to five plants there, signaling a long-term bet on Thailand’s role in the global PCB supply chain.
Thailand has rapidly become a major PCB hub, attracting nearly 30 PCB manufacturers and 25 equipment suppliers since late 2022, per the report. According to industry data, it is projected to account for 4.7% of global PCB output this year, up from 3.5% in 2022.
Unimicron will spend NT$8.5 billion (US$263.45 million) on PCB expansion this year, including NT$3.6 billion for Thailand, more than its domestic investment. The company faces growing competition from Chinese rivals, who now account for 60% of new investments in Thailand’s PCB sector.
Still, Tseng said Unimicron holds a lead of about five years over Chinese firms in advanced chip substrate technologies. The company reported NT$115.37 billion in revenue and a net profit of NT$5 billion last year. He added that the company is investing in renewables to offset carbon emissions, including plans for solar and hydrogen energy use by 2027.
