Although TSMC controls the world's most advanced wafer technology, it is still restricted by the United States. Huawei was TSMC's second largest customer, contributing about 15% of its revenue. After the United States revised its chip rules, TSMC could only give up orders from Huawei.
But the ambitions of the United States do not stop there. In addition to restricting TSMC's free shipments, has also been trying to obtain TSMC's advanced chip manufacturing technology, actively inviting TSMC to build factories in the United States, and even requiring TSMC to hand over confidential data.
Judging from these actions of the United States, it is indeed difficult for TSMC to develop independently, but the United States’ attempt is unlikely to succeed, because TSMC has long thought about the way to preserve its power, and now it has a showdown.
After the chip regulations were revised, TSMC had no choice but to announce that it would invest in the construction of 5nm production lines in the United States. It had also held a relocation ceremony some time ago. U.S. President Biden and Apple CEO Cook all appeared at the scene, which was full of cards.
It is planned that the 5nm production line in the United States will be put into production in 2024. TSMC Chairman Liu Deyin also said that after the 5nm production line is completed, it will be directly used to produce 4nm chips. At the same time, it will also invest in a new 3nm production line, which is planned to be put into production in 2026.
But what surprised the United States was that just after the relocation ceremony of the U.S. factory, TSMC quickly announced the news of mass production of the 3nm process. It will be mass produced in 2023. At the same time, it will use Wafer 18 as an important production base for 3nm/5nm chips, with an investment scale of more than 60 billion US dollars.
Not only that, TSMC’s plans to invest in Taiwan Province have not stopped. Subsequent 2nm and 1nm chip factories will be built in Taiwan Province, and 2nm chips are expected to be mass-produced in 2025.
From this point of view, although TSMC has gone to the United States to build a factory, it is certain that TSMC has not put the most advanced production technology in the American production line. Because the 5nm and 3nm production lines under construction in the United States are advanced now, but they will not be considered advanced processes after mass production.
The United States will mass produce 4nm chips in 2024 and 3nm chips in 2026. By then, TSMC's 2nm process will have been mass produced. From a process technology perspective, it is simply impossible for the United States to master TSMC's most advanced process levels.
In addition, TSMC’s planned 4nm wafer production capacity in the United States is only 20,000 wafers per month, This means that TSMC’s establishment of factories in the United States is actually just for domestic chip orders in the United States, and is not to send advanced technology to the United States.
In fact, in the face of the unreasonable demands of the United States, TSMC has already made full plans. While building factories in the United States, it will also invest in building factories around the world. Liu Deyin made it clear long ago that no one can control TSMC by force.
TSMC’s subsequent actions prove everything. Before the United States revised its chip regulations, all of TSMC’s production lines were basically located in Taiwan Province. However, in recent years, investments around the world have become more and more frequent.
For example, the Nanjing 2nm wafer fab in mainland China is one of TSMC's production lines outside Taiwan Province. TSMC now plans to invest US$2.8 billion to expand the production capacity of the Nanjing wafer fab to 100,000 pieces per month.
Then the news of building a factory in Dresden, Germany, as well as the news of investing in and building a second wafer factory in Japan, all prove that TSMC needs to get rid of its dependence on the United States. Building factories around the world can enable TSMC to achieve diversified orders.
If TSMC invests and builds factories around the world, it can obtain more orders locally. This can play a big role in reducing its dependence on the United States and accelerate technological progress.
TSMC’s series of actions are telling everyone that TSMC’s decision to build a factory in the United States is not to hand over technology to the United States. This is just a strategy for TSMC’s globalization process. Regarding TSMC’s move, some American media lamented: After all, they are not one of their own.
Foreign media believe that when TSMC builds factories in the United States, it also selects investment locations in Japan, Europe and other places, which is a disguised attempt to defuse the United States. It is tantamount to standing on the opposite side of the United States, so TSMC is not one of its own.
From an industrial perspective, it is certainly a good thing for TSMC to do this. Global decentralized layout can effectively reduce the risks brought by a single market and will not be influenced by the United States. By insisting on building factories globally, it can also take the lead in its own hands.
So do you think TSMC can get rid of the technical control of the United States and regain free shipping rights? Welcome to comment, like, share and share your opinions.
