🤼 AI vs Market: One year after launch, how did ProPicks AI perform in 2024?See what you missed

Intel spends $33 billion in Germany in landmark expansion

Published 06/19/2023, 12:32 PM
Updated 06/19/2023, 01:50 PM
© Reuters. A smartphone with a displayed Intel logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken March 6, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
INTC
-
NVDA
-
TSLA
-
005930
-

By Friederike Heine, Supantha Mukherjee and Andreas Rinke

BERLIN/STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Intel will spend more than 30 billion euros ($33 billion) to develop two chip-making plants in Magdeburg as part of its expansion push in Europe, a deal Chancellor Olaf Scholz hailed on Monday as Germany's biggest ever foreign investment.

Berlin has agreed subsidies worth nearly 10 billion euros with the U.S. chipmaker, a person familiar with the matter said, more than the 6.8 billion euros it had initially offered Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) to build two leading-edge facilities in the eastern city.

Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger said he was grateful to the government and the state of Saxony-Anhalt, where Magdeburg is located, for "fulfilling the vision of a vibrant, sustainable, leading-edge semiconductor industry in Germany and the EU".

Under Gelsinger, Intel has been investing billions in building factories across three continents to restore its dominance in chipmaking and better compete with rivals AMD, Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Samsung (KS:005930).

"Today's agreement is an important step for Germany as a high-tech production location – and for our resilience," Scholz said after Monday's signing.

"With this investment, we are catching up technologically with the world's best and expanding our own capacities for the ecosystem development and production of microchips."

The German deal marks Intel's third big investment in four days. It unveiled plans on Friday for a $4.6 billion chip plant in Poland, another European Union member, while Israel said on Sunday that Intel would spend $25 billion on a factory there.

Globally, semiconductor manufacturing is expected to become a trillion-dollar industry by 2030, expanding from $600 billion in 2021, according to McKinsey.

Both the United States and Europe are trying to lure big industrial players via a mix of state subsidies and favourable legislation, with Germany concerned about losing appeal as a place to invest.

The government in Berlin is investing billions of euros in subsidies to lure tech companies, amid growing alarm over supply chain fragility and dependence on South Korea and Taiwan for chips.

ATTRACTIVE LOCATION

"The size of Intel's reaffirmed and increased commitment to its expansion in Magdeburg speaks louder than words about Germany's appeal as a high-tech business location," said Robert Hermann, CEO of government agency Germany Trade & Invest.

Berlin is also talking with Taiwan's TSMC and Sweden's electric vehicle battery maker Northvolt about setting up production in Germany, having already convinced Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) to build its first European gigafactory there.

Frankfurt-listed Intel shares were 0.3% higher at 1534 GMT.

Monday's agreement includes what Intel said was increased government support, including incentives, reflecting the expanded scope of the project since it was first announced in March 2022.

Initially, Intel wanted to invest 17 billion euros in the Magdeburg plant, an amount that has nearly doubled to more than 30 billion.

"This shows: Germany is a highly attractive location. We play at the forefront of global competition and secure sustainable and qualified jobs and value creation," Economy Minister Robert Habeck said.

The first facility in Magdeburg is expected to enter operation 4-5 years after the European Commission's approval of the subsidy package, Intel said.

About 7,000 construction jobs will be created in the first expansion, plus around 3,000 high-tech jobs at Intel and tens of thousands of jobs across industry, the U.S. chipmaker said.

Intel announced plans last year to build a big chip complex in Germany and facilities in Ireland and France as it seeks to benefit from easier European Commission funding rules and subsidies. The EU is trying to reduce its dependence on U.S. and Asian chips supply.

Gelsinger had told Reuters on Friday that the gap between what Germany had offered in subsidies and what Intel needed was too big but said he expected to reach an agreement, adding that his request was to be cost competitive.

© Reuters. A smartphone with a displayed Intel logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken March 6, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

"We lost this industry to Asia, we have to be competitive if we're going to bring it back," he said.

($1 = 0.9150 euros)

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.