TSMC Plans 6-Fab Facility in Tainan: 3 for 1nm, 3 for 0.7nm

According to industry rumors, TSMC is set to establish its most advanced 1nm wafer fab in Tainan's Shalun area. The massive facility, expected to accommodate six 12-inch production lines, will significantly expand the existing advanced process manufacturing cluster in the Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP). This strategic move will integrate the STSP with surrounding regions, including Chiayi, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung, aligning with the National Science Council's efforts to promote the "Greater Southern Taiwan New Silicon Valley" initiative.

In response to these rumors, TSMC confirmed that the location selection for its new plant is driven by multiple factors, and while Taiwan remains its primary base, the company is open to various possibilities.

Currently, TSMC operates a global research and development center, five 12-inch fabs, four 8-inch fabs, and one 6-inch fab in Taiwan. Additionally, TSMC has five advanced packaging plants located in the northern, central, and southern regions. The company is also building new plants in Hsinchu Baoshan and Kaohsiung Nanzi to serve as production bases for its 2nm process. Industry insiders revealed that TSMC has internally named the 1nm fab in Tainan Shalun as "Fab 25," signaling a strong commitment to Taiwan after expanding into international markets such as the U.S., Japan, and Germany.

TSMC Chairman Mark Liu recently highlighted the company's continuous investment in Taiwan, with plans for future expansions in the southern regions. Furthermore, the TSMC Board of Directors will convene in mid-February in Arizona, USA, where an additional investment plan in Pingtung is expected to be approved.

Following the decision to relocate the 1nm fab from Taoyuan's Longtan district, multiple cities have been actively vying for the project. Sources reveal that cities such as Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung have proposed comprehensive plans, with Kaohsiung pushing to extend its industrial and tech parks southward, connecting the Nanshi Science Park to new zones in Kaohsiung, Bai Pu, Qiaotou, and Nanzi. This will also link to the Renwu and Hefar Industrial Parks, and the southernmost New Materials Recycling Industry Park, forming a complete industrial cluster—a vision strongly supported by Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai as the "Semiconductor S-belt."

Should the 1nm fab be located in Tainan Shalun, it will further enhance the significance of the S-belt, potentially attracting more investments in materials and supporting equipment supply chains.

TSMC has reportedly submitted a request to the Southern Taiwan Science Park Administration for land in Tainan Shalun, designated for both 1.4nm and 1nm production. The planned facility will initially focus on 1.4nm manufacturing in the first three fabs (P1 to P3), with the remaining three dedicated to 1nm. However, if land at the Central Taiwan Science Park is successfully acquired, the production plans may shift, with the first three fabs focusing on 1nm and the last three on 0.7nm.