TSMC's Ambitious Expansion: A New Taiwanese Factory Every Year and Global Ventures on the Horizon
1min read In a recent statement reported by Taiwanese media, Guo Zhi-Hui, head of Taiwan's economic affairs, indicated that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) might build a new factory on the island every year for the next decade.
Guo emphasized the importance of ensuring sufficient water and power supply to meet the demands of such expansions, although he stressed that any future plans would primarily depend on TSMC's official announcements. He noted that the investment for TSMC's 2nm plant in Kaohsiung is proceeding smoothly.
When questioned about TSMC's potential investment in a 2nm plant in the United States, Guo responded that any overseas venture must be profitable, and uncertain processes would not be outsourced easily. Previously, he commented that although TSMC currently has no plans to produce 2nm chips in the U.S., it might eventually do so. Based on TSMC's overseas manufacturing timeline, the company is expected to implement 2nm or more advanced processes in the U.S. around 2030.
Guo added that TSMC's global reach is a necessary process driven by customer demand. He mentioned the company's substantial investment of $20–30 billion in the U.S., along with deploying 500–600 engineers overseas for knowledge exchange. The facility in Arizona, initiated during former President Trump's first term and slated for completion this December, stands as a testament to this commitment.
Amidst industry-wide criticism over delays, the U.S. CHIPS Act subsidy project finally sees progress as the U.S. Department of Commerce announced plans to grant up to $6.6 billion to TSMC to aid in constructing a semiconductor plant in Arizona.
Back in Taiwan, TSMC's 2nm manufacturing initiatives include equipment installation in the Hsinchu facility by Q2 2024, with production expected by Q4 2025. Meanwhile, the Kaohsiung plant aims for production in the first half of 2026. Additionally, TSMC is assessing the feasibility of establishing a 2nm or more advanced process plant in the Taichung Science Park.