The opening of the second semiconductor factory built by TSMC, one of the world’s largest chipmakers, in Kumamoto, Japan, has been postponed. The company initially planned to begin production in 2028, but the facility’s operational date has been pushed back to the first half of 2029 due to infrastructure and logistics issues.

TSMC is postponing the opening of its factory in Japan

Information about the delay emerged in a Nikkei report. Factors contributing to the project’s postponement by approximately one and a half years include inadequate transportation infrastructure and logistical challenges in the region.

The inability to complete road connections, critical for heavy industry and high-technology investments, has directly impacted the construction process. TSMC emphasized that the delay is not related to its other projects in the US or Germany, but rather due to conditions in Japan.

TSMC already operates a factory in Kumamoto. This first facility, which began production at the end of 2024, produces chips in the 12- to 28-nanometer range for automotive and imaging systems. The second, delayed factory is expected to feature more advanced 6-nanometer manufacturing technology and supply parts to major Japanese companies such as Sony and Denso.

The project is being implemented in partnership with Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing and financially supported by the Japanese government. Despite the delay, the Japanese government views the investment as strategic and remains committed to restoring the country’s leading position in global semiconductor production.

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