TSMC's Japan Chip Skills Valued as US Falters, Apple's US-made Chips Still Need Taiwan Assembly

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is increasingly optimistic about Japan as a production base, as it faces challenges at its new factory in Arizona. TSMC's $8.6 billion fab in Kyushu, Japan, is on track to start producing chips in 2024, and the company is considering further expansion in Japan, including the production of more advanced chips. Successful expansion in Japan could support the country's efforts to regain its status as a chip manufacturing powerhouse and benefit its automotive and electronics industries. TSMC views Japan as a more natural fit in terms of work culture and government support, and it sees Japanese workers as more willing to work long hours in the chipmaking trade. However, TSMC's enthusiasm for Japan is tempered by concerns about higher costs and the macro environment.