40
US industrial minerals company Sibelco plans to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in a quartz-manufacturing facility in North Carolina,
according to an announcement by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Lutnick announced the project at a rally with President Donald Trump on October 20, 2026, describing the investment as worth hundreds of millions of dollars. However, he did not disclose the exact amount, construction timeline or expected production capacity.
The project is intended to support the US semiconductor supply chain by expanding domestic production of quartz, a specialised material used in semiconductor manufacturing. High-purity quartz is essential for equipment and processes involved in producing silicon crystals and wafers, which are used to manufacture chips for artificial intelligence systems, smartphones, computers and data centres.
The investment comes as the United States seeks to strengthen domestic semiconductor production and secure access to critical manufacturing materials. While the new facility could improve the availability of specialised inputs, its potential impact will depend on the project’s final scope, production capacity and implementation timeline.
At the same rally, Trump also referred to $1.5 billion in federal support for semiconductor production in North Carolina. However, the details of that announcement remain unclear. On October 7, the Department of War announced a conditional loan commitment of up to $1.5 billion to Wolfspeed to support domestic production of silicon carbide materials and semiconductor devices.
The Sibelco project and the federal funding announcement should therefore be treated as separate developments unless further details establish a direct connection.
Sibelco’s planned investment highlights the growing strategic importance of specialised raw materials in efforts to strengthen the US semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.
Lutnick announced the project at a rally with President Donald Trump on October 20, 2026, describing the investment as worth hundreds of millions of dollars. However, he did not disclose the exact amount, construction timeline or expected production capacity.
The project is intended to support the US semiconductor supply chain by expanding domestic production of quartz, a specialised material used in semiconductor manufacturing. High-purity quartz is essential for equipment and processes involved in producing silicon crystals and wafers, which are used to manufacture chips for artificial intelligence systems, smartphones, computers and data centres.
The investment comes as the United States seeks to strengthen domestic semiconductor production and secure access to critical manufacturing materials. While the new facility could improve the availability of specialised inputs, its potential impact will depend on the project’s final scope, production capacity and implementation timeline.
At the same rally, Trump also referred to $1.5 billion in federal support for semiconductor production in North Carolina. However, the details of that announcement remain unclear. On October 7, the Department of War announced a conditional loan commitment of up to $1.5 billion to Wolfspeed to support domestic production of silicon carbide materials and semiconductor devices.
The Sibelco project and the federal funding announcement should therefore be treated as separate developments unless further details establish a direct connection.
Sibelco’s planned investment highlights the growing strategic importance of specialised raw materials in efforts to strengthen the US semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.
