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- Dec 31, 202850% CONFIDENCEfrom the source
TSMC's Second Kumamoto Fab (JASM) Starts 3nm Volume Production
- TSMC announced JASM's second Kumamoto fab in February 2024 with Sony Semiconductor Solutions, DENSO and Toyota as minority partners, scheduled to begin operation by the end of 2027 on processes down to 6/7nm[6].
- Construction slipped from early 2025 over local traffic concerns and formally began in October 2025; Japanese press reported further slips and a pause during 2025[5].
- On 5 February 2026 C.C. Wei told Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that the fab would instead make 3nm chips, Japan's first, citing AI demand; Yomiuri reported its investment rising from US$12.2 billion to about US$17 billion, on top of Japanese subsidies of up to 732 billion yen[4][5].
- Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs approved the change on 31 March 2026: a 15,000-wafer-a-month 12-inch line, with equipment installation and volume production starting in 2028[1][3].
- Wei confirmed 2028 for commercial production on TSMC's 16 April 2026 earnings call, alongside Arizona's second fab in the second half of 2027[2].
- JASM's first fab has been in volume production since late 2024 on 12-28nm chips for cars and industry[1].
References 671% CONFIDENCE
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- [1]50%focustaiwan.tw/business/202603310027focustaiwan.tw· Posted Sep 23, 2026· Starts Dec 31, 2028 ✓· 35% of score
Only a year is given: Taiwan's MOEA says the fab is "scheduled to start installing equipment and come online in 2028", and C.C. Wei said on the 16 April 2026 call that "commercial production is scheduled to begin in 2028" - so the year's last day, estimated.
- [2]88%TSMC expanding 3nm capacity in Taiwan, U.S., Japanfocustaiwan.tw· Published Apr 16, 2026· 19% of score
CNA on TSMC's[6] first-quarter investor conference: C.C. Wei said the second Kumamoto fab will adopt the 3nm process and commercial production is scheduled to begin in 2028, and that Taiwan's government has approved the new plan.
- [3]82%台積電熊本廠升級 經濟部准了 (Economic Daily News)udn.com· Published Apr 1, 2026· 18% of score
Economic Daily News reports the MOEA investment commission's 31 March approval of the changed JASM plan: 3nm, a 15,000-wafer-a-month 12-inch line, with equipment installation and volume production from 2028.[1]
- [4]80%熊本に建設中のTSMC第2工場 日本初の先端半導体「3ナノ」生産へ (KAB)kab.co.jp· Published Feb 5, 2026· 14% of score
Kumamoto broadcaster KAB's report (with video) of C.C. Wei telling Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on 5 February 2026 that the second fab under construction in Kikuyo will make 3nm chips, Japan's first, and Takaichi's welcome.
- [5]75%台積電熊本二廠「升級3奈米」！為何魏哲家要改3奈米？二廠時程、兩大原因一次看bnext.com.tw· Published Feb 5, 2026· 14% of score
BusinessNext recaps the schedule (start delayed from Q1 2025 over traffic, formal start in October 2025, reported slip and pause in 2025) and cites Yomiuri that the fab's investment rises from US$12.2 billion to US$17 billion with 3nm, on top of Japan's subsidy of up to 732 billion yen.[1]
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