Chairman of Taiwan Semiconductor, Wei Zhejia, stated at a press conference on the 17th that customers' demand for 2 nanometers is "a lot, a lot", even more than 3 nanometers, which is beyond imagination (Never dream about it). It is expected to start mass production next year and actively prepare production capacity. Currently, the known 2 nanometer factory plans include 4 in Baoshan, Hsinchu, and 3 in Nanzih, Kaohsiung, totaling 7 factories. It will be the largest number of generations of processes in the company's history, surpassing competitors Samsung and Intel, symbolizing Taiwan Semiconductor's dominance in advanced processes, portraying a martial arts scene of a lone warrior.

As the leading wafer foundry, Taiwan Semiconductor's advanced processes can be said to be unrivaled in the world, becoming an industry leader. With a continuous influx of orders for high computing power AI chips under Taiwan Semiconductor, the production capacity of advanced processes has greatly increased. In addition to the 20% of 3-nanometer process shipments accounting for the third quarter's wafer sales amount, the 5-nanometer process accounts for 32%, totaling 52%. The main production area comes from Fab 18 in TSMC's Southern Science Park.

With the anticipated mass production of 2 nanometers next year and sensing the overwhelming demand from customers, Wei Zhejia expects the demand to exceed that of 3 nanometers. Therefore, Taiwan Semiconductor is actively preparing production capacity to meet customer needs. Currently, it is known that Taiwan Semiconductor's 2-nanometer wafer factory is located in the Baoshan and Nanzih Science Parks in Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, respectively. According to information recently released by Taiwan Semiconductor, the 2-nanometer mega wafer plant, Fab 20, being constructed in the second phase of Baoshan in Hsinchu, will have a total of 4 wafer plants in phases 1 to 4, while plans for 3 2-nanometer wafer fabs in Kaohsiung are in place, totaling up to 7 factories.

The P1 plant in Baoshan, Hsinchu has been completed and is currently conducting trial production of 2 nanometers, with mass production expected next year. P2 is also under construction in full swing. The P1 to P2 plants in Nanzih, Kaohsiung, are under construction, with the first plant expected to be installed by the end of the year, and preparations for P3 are also underway. Recently, Mayor Chen Qi Mai of Kaohsiung revealed that the P4 to P5 plants are in the environmental assessment stage.

The Taiwan stock market rose by 433.43 points on the 18th, closing at 23,487.27 points, an increase of 1.88%. According to the stock exchange's data on chip movement, foreign investors collectively bought 56.62 billion NT dollars. Among the top 10 stocks bought by foreign investors, United Microelectronics, the second-largest wafer company, closed at 50.5 NT dollars with a 2.32% decrease, topping the list with 0.043 million shares sold; Financial stock Cathay Life Insurance was the second-highest in sells with 0.016 million shares; Powerchip, another one of the four major wafer foundries in the country, was sold 4,686 shares. Furthermore, the leading wafer company Taiwan Semiconductor's stock price surged by 50 NT dollars, closing at a historic high of 1085 NT dollars, a 4.83% increase, as foreign investors aggressively purchased 0.03 million 4,398 shares.

Observing the top 10 stocks sold by foreign investors today in terms of number of shares, UMC led with 0.04 million 3,959 shares sold; the second was Cathay Life Insurance, with 0.01 million 6,137 shares sold; third was Wah Lee, with 8,919 shares sold; fourth was Mega Financial Holding, with 6,969 shares sold; and fifth was Elite Material, with 6,039 shares sold.

The rest of the stocks with net selling are ranked from sixth to tenth, Yijia sold 6,000 shares; Lianmao sold 5,891 shares, Xinxing sold 5,712 shares; Jinbao sold 5,259 shares; Li Ji sold 4,686 shares.

Source: Semiconductor Industry Observation, original title: 'Taiwan Semiconductor 2nm, Unmatched'.