Source: Semiconductor Industry Watch
TSMC has begun manufacturing Apple's iPhone chips at its foundry in Arizona, and the first chip manufactured in the US will be the A16. TSMC's foundry in Arizona has been under construction for many years, and planning for the project dates back to 2020. After four years of construction, the factory is now in operation and has begun producing chips for Apple.
According to Tim Culpan's sources, $Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM.US)$ The first phase of the Fab 21 plant in Arizona is producing the iPhone 14 Pro's A16 SoC. The quantity is “small, but significant.” Currently, production is mostly a test at the factory, but more production is expected in the coming months.
Once the second phase of the first phase of the plant is actually completed, production will increase substantially. If all goes according to plan, the Arizona plant will meet production targets sometime in the first half of 2025.
Allegedly, the chip uses the same N4P process as the A16 manufactured by TSMC's Taiwan factory. It is considered an enhanced version of the 5 nm process rather than 4 nm production.
A TSMC spokesperson told Calpan: “The Arizona project is progressing as planned and is progressing smoothly.” But they didn't reveal that Apple was the factory's first production customer.
TSMC's rate in Meiliang is comparable to Taiwan
Bloomberg pointed out in an earlier report that the yield of the **** semiconductor manufacturing company's Arizona plant is comparable to TSMC's existing plant in Taiwan, which indicates that its landmark project in the US is expected to achieve its goals.
According to a source familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named, the production rate of the **** chipmaker's trial production at its first advanced plant in the US is similar to that of a similar factory in the southern Chinese city of Tainan. TSMC has said that the company began wafer production using advanced 4 nm process technology in April.
Yield, or how many usable chips a company can produce in a single manufacturing process, is a key factor affecting profitability. Although TSMC did not disclose its production volume, investors are counting on the company to maintain stable profit margins. The company said that in the long run, its gross margin can be maintained at 53% or higher, and its net profit has remained stable at over 36% over the past four years.
TSMC said in an email that its Arizona project “is progressing as planned and is progressing well,” but did not comment on production.
TSMC is $Apple (AAPL.US)$ The company and$NVIDIA (NVDA.US)$The company's preferred chipmaker, initially planned to have its first factory in Arizona fully operational in 2024, but this target was delayed until 2025 due to a lack of skilled workers. The delay raised concerns that the company might not be able to produce chips in the US as efficiently as in Taiwan.
Edit/Rocky