Malaysia leads the ranking of the top exporters of semiconductor chips to the United States in the first half of 2025.

According to data from the Department of Commerce, Malaysia exported these products worth $12.99 billion to the U.S. market in that period.

With this, this nation surpassed Taiwan, whose corresponding exports were 12,017 million dollars.

Exporters of semiconductor chips

Semiconductor chips are key pieces of modern technology. They regulate the flow of current in millions of devices. They are in computers, cell phones, cars and medical equipment. Moreover, their ability to process data makes them the core of digital transformation.

On a global scale, several companies lead their production. Among the main exporters to the United States are TSMC and UMC, from Taiwan. Also Samsung and SK Hynix, from South Korea. They are joined by ASML, from the Netherlands, and Infineon, from Germany. 

The following are the main exporters of semiconductor chips to the United States in the first half of 2025, in millions of dollars:

• Malaysia: 12,999.
• Taiwan: 12,017.
• Vietnam: 7,246.
• Thailand: 4,678.
• Israel: 4,669.
• South Korea: 3,250.
• China: 2,115.
• Ireland: 2,165.
• Japan: 2,019.
• Mexico: 1,915.

Trump Tariffs

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he plans to impose 100% tariffs on semiconductor chip imports.

But the president added that U.S. Customs will not charge companies that commit to manufacturing chips in the United States.

«We will impose a tariff of about 100% on chips and semiconductors,» Trump declared at the White House.

He then commented, «So the 100% tariff will be on all chips and semiconductors coming into the United States. But if you’ve committed to manufacturing (in the U.S.), or if you’re in the process of manufacturing (in the U.S.), as many are, there is no tariff.»

In 2024, the U.S. imported $63.706 billion worth of semiconductor chips, according to the Commerce Department.

This component is key to emerging technologies. These include artificial intelligence, electric vehicles and 5G networks. Also quantum computing, advanced robotics and smart medical devices. Even aerospace systems depend on these chips.