The Sony Group has officially announced plans to construct its second semiconductor plant in Kumamoto Prefecture. We will acquire a new site in Koshi City, and the investment amount is expected to reach several hundred billion yen.
The Sony Group is the largest semiconductor company used in smartphone cameras and other products with a 5% share of the global market share, and has been considering the construction of a second new plant near its plant in Kikuyo-cho, Kumamoto Prefecture.
According to the announcement, the company will acquire approximately 2 hectares of new land in Koshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture.
The investment amount is expected to reach several hundred billion yen, and we aim to start operations after fiscal 27.
Teruji Shimizu, President of Sony Semiconductor Solutions, said at an online briefing, "The image sensor business is expected to grow over the medium to long term, and we hope to achieve a 60% market share by steadily seizing growth opportunities."
On top of that, while there will be changes due to the market environment, we will make capital investments of 2026 billion yen over the three years from next fiscal year to fiscal 3.
Separately, Sony is building a new semiconductor plant in Kikuyo in collaboration with Taiwanese semiconductor giants TSMC and Denso.
Against the backdrop of the confrontation between the United States and China, as part of economic security, there is an urgent need to strengthen the semiconductor production system as part of Japan, and the movement to expand investment is spreading further.
Manufacturers Moving Capital Investment in Semiconductor Industry in Kyushu
In Kyushu, capital investment in the semiconductor industry is expanding.
▽Mitsubishi Electric plans to build a new power semiconductor plant in Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture, with production scheduled to begin in April 2026.
In addition, the company will also enhance production facilities at its plant in Koshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture, bringing the total investment amount to approximately 4 billion yen.
▽ Semiconductor giant ROHM announced last year that it will expand its plant in Chikugo City, Fukuoka Prefecture, and make additional investments of up to 1000 billion yen.
▽Semiconductor materials manufacturer SUMCO is increasing its silicon wafer production capacity at its plant in Imari City, Saga Prefecture, aiming to start operations in the second half of this year, with an investment amount of 1700.2015 billion yen.
▽Kyocera has invested approximately 620 billion yen to build a new plant in Isahaya City, Nagasaki Prefecture to produce semiconductor-related components, which is scheduled to be completed in FY2025.
Tokyo Electron, a major semiconductor equipment manufacturer, has built a development building at a plant in Koshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture at a cost of about 300 billion yen, which is expected to be completed next fall.
Since Kyushu has abundant water resources that are indispensable for semiconductor production and a stable supply of electricity is expected due to the spread of solar power generation, manufacturers are actively expanding capital investment and concentrating the semiconductor industry.