Taiwan will be the center of TSMC’s 2nm wafer production, with the Baoshan and Kaohsiung facilities serving as the primary manufacturing hubs for cutting-edge technology. The semiconductor giant was previously reported to have commenced trial production at its Baoshan plant with a target of 5,000 wafers, and before that, it was mentioned that the company achieved a new yield milestone of 60 percent. Based on the latest report, it appears that there is no stopping TSMC because the latter has apparently kicked off trial production at its Kaohsiung plant, with the same monthly production target as its Baoshan location.
A total of six factories are located at Baoshan and Kaohsiung, but TSMC might start production at a third facility if the 2nm demand becomes overwhelming
Demand for 2nm wafers is said to be higher than the previous-generation 3nm, so it is only fitting that TSMC commences trial production a bit sooner. According to Economic Daily News, operations will start later this month, and with the advancements being made by the Taiwanese behemoth, mass production is expected to begin later in the year. The report also mentions that Apple is estimated to be the foundry’s first customer, followed by Qualcomm and MediaTek, suggesting that the manufacturer will have its hands full in fulfilling orders.
With both the Baoshan and Kaohsiung plants fully operational, it was previously estimated that TSMC could increase its monthly wafer output to 40,000 units. In total, the company has six factories at both locations, and if demand ever exceeds supply, TSMC could allocate some space at its Nanke plant. By 2026, it is estimated that the foundry titan’s monthly wafer output could reach a whopping 80,000 units, which should be more than plentiful to sate the demand of a boatload of customers.
As far as costs go, TSMC is also planning to start its ‘CyberShuttle’ service in April this year, where its clients like Apple, Qualcomm, MediaTek, and countless others can test their chips on the same sample wafer, leading to reduced costs. The progress made by the semiconductor manufacturer will ensure that it maintains a convincing lead against the competition, with Samsung providing little to no resistance regarding cutting-edge nodes.
News Source: Economic Daily News
