TSMC invests $15 billion on 3nm this year - volume production in 2H 2022

This year TSMC plans a record $28 billion in capital expenditure. The bulk of this figure are investments related to ramping up 3nm production. The Taiwanese foundry expects risk production of 3nm chips will start this year and that it will be able to offer volume production in the second half of 2022.

TSMC on track to move 3nm process to risk production in 2021: TSMC is on track to move 3nm process technology to risk production in 2021 followed by volume production in the second half of 2022, according to the pure-play foundry.

One of the driving forces behind this is Apple. Last month it was estimated that Apple had contracted 80 percent of TSMC's 5nm capacity for 2021 and the firm is keen to move to 3nm as fast as possible.

Smartphone chips are a big revenue driver for TSMC but the foundry expects high performance computing chips will start playing a bigger role in the future.

Source: DigiTimes