TSMC employees, fab unaffected by Kumamoto quake - Taipei Times

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto, Japan, prompting global concern over semiconductor supply chain stability. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) confirmed that its facility in ... Read original →

Although the Kumamoto earthquake did not directly impact TSMC’s Japanese facility, it revealed the fragility of global semiconductor supply chains to natural disasters. Despite the absence of damage at JASM’s plant, the second 3nm fab’s operations were suspended due to aftershocks, highlighting the operational risks of advanced nodes under extreme conditions. TSMC’s resilience underscores its critical role in maintaining global chip supply stability, but long-term reliance on regional production centers remains risky. In response, manufacturers are increasingly diversifying supply networks, particularly in key areas such as Taiwan, China and Hong Kong, China. The incident may prompt stricter compliance and risk management frameworks, especially amid rising geopolitical and climate-related uncertainties. Over the next 12 months, industry players are likely to accelerate investments in automation and disaster recovery systems to mitigate external disruptions.