TSMC has recently decided to increase the monthly wafer input for its 5-nm process from 90,000 sheets to 105,000 sheets and further to 120,000 sheets by the end of this year and to 160,000 sheets by 2024.

Samsung Electronics has also decided to expand the production capacity of the 5-nm foundry line being set up at its second plant in Pyeongtaek from 28,000 sheets of wafer per month to 43,000.

Samsung Electronics is betting on the 3-nm process technology. The company announced that it will start mass production of 3-nm chips from 2022. However, analysts say that it will not be easy for Samsung Electronics to narrow its gap with TSMC as its rival is faster than expected in the development of a 3-nm process. The TSMC chairman said that the company will complete the development of a 3-nm process next year.

Sales of the world's top 10 foundry companies are expected to rise 20 percent in the first quarter of 2021 amid a global shortage of semiconductors.

TSMC’s estimated market share in the first quarter of 2021 is 56 percent, far ahead of Samsung Electronics’ 18 percent. The two are followed by UMC, GlobalFoundries and SMIC, with each holding a 5 percent to 7 percent share.