Is Apple bringing chip manufacturing home? – Computerworld


TSMC doubles down

That’s why it is significant that TSMC confirmed plans to extend its own manufacturing in America. It already has a $165 billion US commitment; now, it is investing an additional $100 billion in four more chip plants — including one dedicated to churning out the company’s most advanced 2nm (and smaller) processors. 

“We believe this investment will help to further foster the development of the US semiconductor ecosystem, strengthen the supply chain, and support an increasing number of high-tech, high-paying jobs in the United States,”  CEO C.C. Wei told analysts.

TSMC has also confirmed plans to invest in packaging facilities for processors, which is basically the process where memory, processor, and networking nodes can all be combined and packaged on the chip. That sort of packaging is needed to make the final SoC chip. That means TSMC factories in the US will be able to churn out the advanced processors used in Apple’s current and, presumably, future devices.

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U.S. manufacturing stalls, held back by durable goods


July 17, 2026 10:06 AM, EDT

Aircraft manufacturing in Renton, Wash. (M. Scott Brauer/Bloomberg)

Key Takeaways:Toggle View of Key Takeaways

  • U.S. manufacturing production stalled in June, dragged down by a decline in durable goods such as machinery.
  • Durable goods declines, including machinery, wood products, electrical equipment and appliances, helped stall factory output despite gains in utilities and mining.
  • Capacity utilization at factories fell slightly to 75.7% as renewed U.S.-Iran hostilities raised risks for energy costs and demand.

U.S. manufacturing production stalled in June, dragged down by a decline in durable goods such as machinery.

Factory output, which accounts for three-fourths of total industrial production, was unchanged after an upwardly revised 0.1% increase in May, Federal Reserve data out July 17 showed.

The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for a 0.1% advance.

Overall industrial production rose 0.1% for a second month. And output at utilities and mining each increased 0.4%, according to the report.

Within durables, other categories that also declined included wood products, electrical equipment and appliances.

Meanwhile, production of computer and electronic products and defense and space equipment, which both saw strong gains in the two previous months, slowed in June.

June #IndustrialProduction: Total +0.1%, Mfg. +0.0%, Utilities +0.4%, Mining +0.4%; #CapacityUtilization 76.1% https://t.co/nYuGKYaV9g #FedData

— Federal Reserve (@federalreserve) July 17, 2026

The report, showing two months of stagnation, contrasts with other recent data signaling some recovery in manufacturing. But an upturn in energy prices amid renewed hostilities between the U.S. and Iran risks driving up costs and sapping demand.

In the Fed report, capacity utilization at factories, a measure of potential output being used, fell slightly to 75.7%. The overall industrial utilization rate was unchanged.

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US Manufacturing Stocks That Could Benefit Most From New Brazil Tariffs


Tariffs on Brazilian goods are shifting attention back to companies that actually make things inside the United States. With a new 25% tariff on selected imports set to sit on top of an existing 10% duty, some US manufacturers could see a clearer runway against foreign competitors, while others may feel cost pressure in their supply chains. This article looks at 3 stocks from a US Domestic Manufacturing screener that appear closely tied to the latest trade move, exploring how the new rules might help or hurt their positioning and what that could mean for investors watching these companies.

Insteel Industries (IIIN)

Overview: Insteel Industries is a US based manufacturer of steel wire reinforcing products that go into concrete structures such as bridges, parking decks, buildings, drainage systems, and residential slabs, supplying prestressed concrete strand and welded wire reinforcement to concrete product manufacturers, rebar fabricators, distributors, and contractors.

Market Cap: US$581.1m

Investors watching US trade policy may find Insteel Industries particularly interesting, as it sits squarely in the steel reinforcement niche that could benefit when tariffs make competing imports from countries like Brazil more expensive. The company has already been closely involved in anti dumping and countervailing duty cases around PC strand and welded wire reinforcement, and commentary from management shows a deep focus on how tariffs are applied and enforced. At the same time, Insteel is dealing with higher cost offshore raw material, mixed construction end markets and a modest dividend that currently is not well covered by free cash flow. With earnings forecasts and valuation implying room for disagreement between market pricing and analyst expectations, there is more to unpack for investors who want to understand how policy shifts could reshape its earnings profile.

Tariffs may be reshaping the runway for Insteel Industries, but the real tension sits between policy support and its cash flow strain. Get the full context in the 3 key rewards and 1 important warning sign

NYSE:IIIN Revenue & Expenses Breakdown as at Jul 2026NYSE:IIIN Revenue & Expenses Breakdown as at Jul 2026

Core Molding Technologies (CMT)

Overview: Core Molding Technologies is a Columbus, Ohio based manufacturer that molds thermoplastic and thermoset structural components for customers in trucks, power sports, building products, industrial equipment, utilities, and other commercial markets across the US, Mexico, Canada, and internationally.

Operations: Core Molding Technologies generates about US$270.9m in revenue from molding thermoplastic and thermoset structural products.

Market Cap: US$212.2m

Core Molding Technologies gives you exposure to advanced composites and engineered materials at a time when tariffs on Brazilian goods are pushing more production towards North American suppliers. The company is investing heavily in capacity and automation, supported by a larger, cheaper credit facility and Mexico expansion. However, recent revenue softness, thin net margins around 3.5%, and reliance on cyclical truck and transportation customers keep execution risk firmly on the table. In addition, insider selling, leadership changes, and its removal from the Russell 2000 mean sentiment is far from one sided. For investors willing to study how these moving parts interact with USMCA rules and new tariff advantages, the full story around Core Molding Technologies could be more interesting than the headline numbers suggest.

Core Molding Technologies looks like a growth story stalled by thin margins and shifting indexes, yet its balance sheet and Mexico expansion raise fresh questions that the Core Molding Technologies financial health report

NYSEAM:CMT Revenue & Expenses Breakdown as at Jul 2026NYSEAM:CMT Revenue & Expenses Breakdown as at Jul 2026

Sylvamo (SLVM)

Overview: Sylvamo is a Memphis based producer of uncoated printing and writing papers and pulp, selling copy and office paper, digital and inkjet grades, and commercial printing stocks under long established brands such as REY, Berga, Multicopy, Chamex and Hammermill across Europe, Latin America and North America.

Operations: Sylvamo generates about US$0.7b of revenue in Europe, US$0.9b in Latin America and US$1.7b in North America, with a small amount of inter segment sales.

Market Cap: US$1.6b

Sylvamo sits at the center of tariff tensions with Brazil, but in a way that could work in your favor, as a US based producer competing directly with Brazilian paper and pulp that may now face a combined 35% duty into the US market. The company is already using Brazilian output to supply North America and has flexibility to adjust volumes as tariffs change. Efficiency projects such as the Eastover mill investments are intended to support future earnings and cash flow. Set against this are clear pressure points, including recent margin compression, high debt, and a dividend that is not well covered by free cash flow. The key consideration is how tariff support, capacity upgrades and index removal interact over time to reshape the risk reward trade off for Sylvamo shareholders.

Sylvamo’s tariff support, debt load and fragile dividend coverage point to a story that might be mispriced by the market, and the 3 key rewards and 3 important warning signs could reveal the twist investors are missing

NYSE:SLVM Revenue & Expenses Breakdown as at Jul 2026NYSE:SLVM Revenue & Expenses Breakdown as at Jul 2026

The three stocks in this article are only a slice of the opportunity, with the full US Domestic Manufacturing screener surfacing 25 more US manufacturers that pair solid fundamentals with equally compelling tariff and reshoring narratives. Use Simply Wall St to identify the catalysts that matter to you, filter for the cash flow, balance sheet and policy angles discussed here, and analyze which companies could become your highest conviction manufacturing ideas.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data
and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice.
It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your
financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data.
Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.
Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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