Samsung Electronics will begin construction of the "P3" plant, the third semiconductor production line at the Pyeongtaek Campus in Gyeonggi Province, as early as next month.
As the No. 1 global memory semiconductor business, Samsung Electronics is determined to continue making preemptive investments to maintain 'super gap' even in times of crisis. It plans to invest a total of over 30 trillion won ($25.4 billion) in the P3 plant.
According to Pyeongtaek City and Samsung Electronics on Aug. 10, the construction of the Pyeongtaek campus semiconductor production line No. 3 (P3) will begin in September at the earliest.
The final construction permit area is known to be 700,000 square meters. It combines semiconductor production lines, which are usually built on two floors, and auxiliary buildings such as offices on five or more floors.
The P3 line is the largest among the six lines that Samsung Electronics has decided to build at the Pyeongtaek campus. Considering that it usually takes three to four years to build, bring in facilities, and produce semiconductors, it is predicted that mass-production of the P3 line will be possible in the second half of 2023.
Considering that new production lines have been mass-produced in the "three-year cycle," with the P1 line operating in the second half of 2017 and the P2 line currently in the final stage of construction within this year, experts predict that the first production period of the P3 line will be in the second half of 2023.
It is predicted that the amount of investment for P3 Line will be the largest among single lines of Pyeongtaek campus. Considering that investments in P2 lines, which are smaller than P3, amount to 30 trillion won, it is expected to easily surpass 30 trillion won for the P3 line.
Samsung Electronics' rush to expand its semiconductor line is due to the management philosophy of Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, who makes bold preemptive investments to maintain the super gap with its competitors.
Samsung Electronics expects demands for semiconductors to continue to increase due to the spread of 'untact' lifestyle caused by the COVID-19. Samsung is also expanding its investment in the foundry sector, aiming to become the world's No. 1 non-memory semiconductor sector by 2030.
