ASML to Join Kaohsiung for TSMC's 2nm Production

The semiconductor industry announces ASML's recent leasing of a commercial office space in Kaohsiung, marking the establishment of its official presence in the region. This strategic move is closely tied to TSMC's upcoming installation of equipment at their 2nm wafer fabrication plant in Kaohsiung, scheduled for completion by the end of 2024, with mass production set to commence in 2025.

ASML currently operates four offices across Taiwan, including Hsinchu, Linkou, Taichung, and Tainan. Among these, the Linkou facility serves as a manufacturing center for equipment refurbishment and metrology equipment production, while Tainan hosts the E-beam electron beam inspection equipment manufacturing center and the EUV (extreme ultraviolet) lithography machine global training center.

Industry projections anticipate significant growth in the IC industry's value chain in Kaohsiung, potentially reaching NT$2 trillion in the future. Recent investments by leading companies such as Applied Materials, Merck, Intel, and Lam Research underscore the region's appeal. Moreover, major chip design firms like MediaTek and Novatek, alongside semiconductor giants TSMC, Winbond, Macronix, and NXP, are progressively establishing a foothold, contributing to the burgeoning semiconductor ecosystem in the area.

TSMC's two 2nm fabs in Kaohsiung are situated within the 29.83-hectare Nanzih Industrial Park, with an estimated investment of approximately US$20 billion (NT$643.2 billion) for the first fab. The second 2nm fab is currently in the excavation phase and is projected to commence production in the first half of 2026. Plans for the third 2nm fab, located on a 17-hectare site adjacent to the Nanzih Industrial Park, are underway, with local administrative bodies in Taiwan overseeing the necessary infrastructure development and administrative procedures for its establishment.