TAIPEI, April 11 (Reuters) - Taiwan's Vanguard

International Semiconductor said on Friday it will

speed up construction of its 12-inch wafer fab in Singapore as

geopolitical risks prompt customers to seek more options to make

chips outside China.

Construction of the factory, part of VSMC, a joint venture

Vanguard unveiled last year with European chipmaker NXP

Semiconductors ( NXPI ), is on schedule and even slightly ahead,

with mass production expected to begin in 2027, it added.

Vanguard specialises in

legacy chips

that go into products from cars to display panels. Chinese

competitors have been aggressively building up manufacturing

capacity for the chips in recent years.

Vanguard Chairman Leuh Fang told reporters some customers

had also placed urgent orders due to hefty U.S. tariffs, but

added a lot of uncertainties could still affect full-year

demand.

The company exports less than 1% of its chips directly to

the United States.