[News] TSMC’s Kumamoto Fab 2 Reportedly Begins Land Preparation

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According to a report from Japanese news outlet Kyodo News, TSMC’s Fab in Kikuyo, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan (Kumamoto Fab 1) is expected to start mass production in Q4 this year. The planned second Fab (Kumamoto Fab 2) will also be located in Kikuyo. Reportedly, TSMC’s Kumamoto Fab 2 has already begun land preparation, the construction of the fab is set to commence as scheduled in the second half of the year, with the goal of commencing operations by 2027.

The report indicates that Kumamoto Fab 2 is situated to the east of Kumamoto Fab 1, which held its opening ceremony in February. Per Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, the land area for Kumamoto Fab 2 is approximately 321,000 square meters, about 1.5 times larger than Kumamoto Fab 1 (an increase of around 50%). The investment for this project is estimated at around JPY 2.2 trillion yen, with the Japanese government providing subsidies of up to JPY 732 billion.

Kumamoto Fab 1 is expected to begin mass production in Q4 of this year, utilizing 28/22nm and 16/12nm process technologies with a monthly capacity of 55,000 wafers.

On February 6th, TSMC announced the construction of Kumamoto Fab 2 in Kumamoto Prefecture. Combined, the total investment for both Fabs is expected to exceed USD 20 billion. Construction of Kumamoto Fab 2 is scheduled to start at the end of 2024, with the goal of beginning operations by the end of 2027, focusing on 6/7nm technology. The combined monthly capacity of Kumamoto Fab 1 and Fab 2 is estimated to exceed 100,000 wafers.

Kumamoto’s newly appointed governor, Takashi Kimura, who took office in April, stated in an report from Bloomberg on May 11th that he would spare no effort to persuade TSMC to establish a third fab in the region. Kimura believed that during the preparations for TSMC’s first fab in Kumamoto, the region already possesses better-quality road and water infrastructure and an education system that better supports international school students, which could be advantageous.

Read more

• [News] A Subsidy Wave Sweeping in the US, Europe and Japan amid the Cut-Throat Chip Competition
• [News] Rumored to Build Third Plant in Kumamoto, TSMC: Currently Focusing on Assessing the Construction of a Second Plant

(Photo credit: TSMC)