WSJ: TSMC Eyes “Legacy Node” Facility in Singapore

Image via TSMC

20 MAY 2022 - TSMC, the world’s largest chip producer and Apple’s manufacturing partner on its A-series and M-series processors, may be eyeing new facilities in Singapore. Secret sources tell The Wall Street Journal (via Apple News+) that that is the case. For the chipmaker’s part, a spokesperson says, “TSMC doesn’t rule out any possibility but does not have any concrete plan at this time.”

That said, they’re said to be talking. One source indicates that “preliminary talks involve a major plant whose cost would run into the billions of dollars…”  Other sources indicate that the Singaporean government “might help fund the plant,” and that “negotiations are under way with the government’s Economic Development Board…”

Current direction would have the plant making seven-nanometer to 28-nanometer chips, according to yet another secret so-and-so. The piece says those chips “are based on older production technologies and are widely used in cars, smartphones and other devices.” You know the “legacy nodes” that Apple CEO Tim Cook says have caused supply constraints for the company? This plant or plants would apparently address that shortfall. One assumes that that would be years from now, though. You can’t build a “billions of dollars” facility overnight. Plus it’s not just chips that are in short supply, but also the machines that make the chips.

It looks like the processor hungry planet is still a ways away from relief. But more relief may be on the way.