Texas dominates American exports, accounting for 22.05 percent of all US goods exports on a 12-month moving average basis, far ahead of California's 8.92 percent . Within this powerhouse economy, semiconductors and electronic components have been the state's top export category for 14 consecutive years . The company most responsible for establishing this dominance is Texas Instruments, which invented the integrated circuit in 1958 and has been exporting ever since.
Texas Instruments' path to becoming a global semiconductor exporter began with a breakthrough that changed the world. Jack Kilby's invention of the integrated circuit at TI in Dallas laid the foundation for modern electronics, and the company has been at the center of chip innovation ever since . Today, TI operates major fabrication facilities in Sherman and Richardson, with the Sherman site representing a potential $40 billion capital investment across up to four fabs . This scale of domestic manufacturing capacity is not merely for the American market—it is the base from which TI serves customers worldwide.
The company's export strategy is built on a simple but powerful premise: manufacture at scale domestically, sell globally through direct channels, and maintain cost leadership through technological superiority. TI's investment in 300mm wafer fabrication—reaching 60 percent of wafers internally by the end of 2024 and targeting above 80 percent by 2030—is a deliberate strategy to lower unit costs and maintain margin leadership against global competitors . The same logic applies to internal assembly, which reached 70 percent in 2024 and is targeted above 90 percent by decade's end .
TI's international marketing model differs fundamentally from consumer brands. Rather than relying on distributors or retail channels, the company sells directly to industrial customers, automotive manufacturers, and electronics designers through its ti.com platform and a global sales force. This channel advantage is particularly effective when combined with a broad portfolio: once TI has established a relationship with a customer, adding new products to that relationship generates high incremental returns . The company's embedded processing business, while facing competitive pressure in recent years, is being repositioned toward analog and mixed-signal products where TI's manufacturing and channel strengths are most defensible .
Geographic diversification is a hallmark of TI's export profile. While the company does not disclose country-level revenue in its public filings, its customer base spans automotive, industrial, and communications sectors across North America, Europe, and Asia. The decision to build manufacturing capacity in the United States—rather than relying on foundries in Taiwan or Korea—reflects both geopolitical risk management and a belief that controlling the supply chain from wafer to package provides a durable competitive advantage . TI's CEO has described this as "geopolitically dependable capacity," a phrase that resonates with customers who prioritize supply security .
The cyclical nature of semiconductors has tested TI's export model repeatedly, but the company's response has been consistent: invest through downturns, maintain inventory discipline, and prepare for demand recovery before it arrives. TI finished 2024 with substantial inventory on its balance sheet and cleanroom capacity ready to be filled, a deliberate choice to be prepared for rapid demand increases rather than scrambling to build factories that take two to three years to come online . This countercyclical investment philosophy has allowed the company to gain share during recoveries.
TI's role in Texas's export economy extends beyond its own shipments. The company anchors a semiconductor ecosystem in the state that includes suppliers, research institutions, and a skilled workforce pipeline. The Sherman facility alone is expected to create 3,000 direct and indirect Texas jobs, reinforcing the state's position as the center of American chip innovation . When TI exports, it exports not just products but the credibility of an entire regional manufacturing cluster.