TSMC Gradually Resumes Operations in Kumamoto After Earthquake

Taiwanese chip giant TSMC is cautiously restarting operations at its Kumamoto, Japan, semiconductor factory following a significant magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck the region.

The company confirmed that all employees at the Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing (JASM) plant are safe. Structural inspections have concluded, verifying the safety of the plant's buildings, and operations are now resuming incrementally. Detailed impact assessments and inspections are ongoing.

While the first Kumamoto factory, which began mass production in late 2024, focuses on 12 to 28-nanometer chips for the automotive and industrial markets, TSMC is also developing a second facility. This new plant is slated to produce cutting-edge 3-nanometer semiconductors, a move driven by the surging demand for artificial intelligence applications.

Although the earthquake caused the preventive evacuation of workers and a temporary halt in construction at the second plant, TSMC stated that the ongoing construction was not structurally damaged. The company is taking precautionary measures against potential aftershocks.

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Structural inspections following the earthquake have concluded and confirm that the structures are safe, so operations are gradually resuming. Detailed inspections and impact assessments are still ongoing.