StoryRegulatory
Taiwan approves 3nm for TSMC's second Kumamoto fab, with production from 2028
Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs approved TSMC's plan to use its 3 nm process at the second Kumamoto fab, upgrading it from the 6-12 nm approved in 2024. Equipment installation and production are to start in 2028 with 15,000 wafers a month; CEO C.C. Wei tied the change to soaring AI demand.
- The June 2024 approval had covered a $5.26B investment for 6-12 nm chips.
- Production had been planned for end-2027 under the earlier plan.
- Fab 1 has made 12-28 nm chips for cars and industry since late 2024.