TSMC’s U.S. Factory Plans Small-Scale Trial Line for Q1 2024

　　According to a report by Taiwan’s Money DJ, the production schedule for TSMC’s semiconductor foundry in the United States has been delayed until 2025, raising concerns among observers. However, Chairman Mark Liu, in an interview on the 6th, stated that there has been significant progress over the past five months and expressed confidence in the project’s success. Industry sources have indicated that TSMC’s U.S. facility may alter its ramp-up strategy by first establishing a mini-line for trial production, with the expectation of having it in place by the first quarter of 2024.

　　TSMC’s Fab 21 Phase 1 construction began in April 2021, originally slated for early 2024 production. However, challenges such as a shortage of skilled equipment installation personnel, local union protests, and differences in overseas safety regulations have caused delays in equipment installation. This has compelled TSMC to adjust its plans, and the expected production timeline is now set for 2025, representing a one-year delay.

　　Industry analysts have noted that the efficiency of equipment entering the facility at TSMC’s U.S. plant in Arizona is only about one-third of that of its Taiwan facilities. Given the current pace of progress, the time required for equipment setup to actual production could be substantial. Therefore, TSMC has decided to change its previous ramp-up strategy and first establish a mini-line with an initial estimated monthly capacity of about 4,000 to 5,000 wafers. This approach aims to ensure some level of production output while mitigating potential contract breach issues arising from delays in production.