The global foundry race has entered a new phase after TSMC announced it has begun volume production of its 2nm process, intensifying competitive pressure on Samsung Electronics as the two chipmakers vie for leadership at the industry’s most advanced manufacturing node. The move is closely watched across the semiconductor sector because 2nm technology is expected to underpin the next generation of AI, mobile, and high-performance computing chips, shaping pricing power, customer relationships, and supply-chain diversification.