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Japan has signaled that it would like TSMC to expand in the country beyond a factory already under construction, but no decision has been made and TSMC is studying the feasibility, people familiar with the matter said.
www.wsj.com
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Personally, I'm not bought into this theory that TSMC building local fabs in countries worried about a Chinese takeover will be an insulation mechanism. As I've previously posted, I really doubt these fabs will be operational for long without the Taiwanese mother ship.
Japan has signaled that it would like TSMC to expand in the country beyond a factory already under construction, but no decision has been made and TSMC is studying the feasibility, people familiar with the matter said.
www.wsj.com
Sorry, but this takes a subscription.
Personally, I'm not bought into this theory that TSMC building local fabs in countries worried about a Chinese takeover will be an insulation mechanism. As I've previously posted, I really doubt these fabs will be operational for long without the Taiwanese mother ship.
Once a fab is built, equipment installed and processes/products at specific technology nodes transferred and production methods established, supplies of materials and support secured, it can/will operate relatively independently, without mother fab any help. It can plan and execute its own continuous improvement plans to ensure staying marketplace competitive.
Only when (or if) it needs to move to the next node(s), it will require mother fab to transfer technology again. But vast majority of the foundry fabs including TSMC typically stay at the same node or nodes (some are limited by the capability of the equipment installed), so it can operate without mother fab at the same nodes.
Personal opinion and from an investor perspective in a private company TSMC, I think their diversifying to different countries is way over due. Should have started 5-8 years earlier, given the long cycle time required to establish new fabs. But, late is always better than never. They need to accelerate US, Japan fabs. (of course, what impacts this could have on the "Silicon shield" of Taiwan, will be a very different discussion).
I think Japan is a key ally for Taiwan so this is great news. Japan has a very big concern if China takes Taiwan. Japan also has plenty of semiconductor manufacturing experience and talent so this is an excellent partnership moving forward.
www.wsj.com
