Micron to Increase U.S. Investments to $250 Billion, Allocate $500M to Silicon Wafer Plant

Micron has expanded its investment program in the U.S. semiconductor industry, raising total planned spending to $250 billion by 2035—up from the previously announced $200 billion. A portion of these funds, $500 million, will support the GlobalWafers facility in Sherman, Texas, which specializes in 300mm silicon wafers. This plant is the only U.S. producer of such wafers, essential for manufacturing modern DRAM, NAND, and logic chips.

The agreement includes a 10-year supply deal for Micron. The GlobalWafers plant, opened in May 2023, received a $406 million grant under the CHIPS Act. The facility is designed for six construction phases, with only one currently operational. Previously, Micron sourced wafers from suppliers in Japan, Taiwan, Germany, and South Korea, where over 90% of global 300mm wafer production is concentrated.

GlobalWafers had previously stated that launching a second construction phase in Texas required long-term customer contracts, upfront payments, and government support. The Micron deal addresses most of these requirements. With semiconductor demand—particularly for AI applications—surging, chipmakers are investing heavily in wafer production capacity to reduce reliance on a limited supplier base.

According to SEMI, silicon wafer shipments grew 13.1% year-over-year in Q1 2026 due to demand from data center chips. Micron also reported progress at its new facilities: production in Idaho will begin in mid-2027, while the New York plant is slated for no earlier than 2030. Despite these efforts, the company still cannot meet 60-70% of current memory demand.