What simply occurred? A 6.4-magnitude earthquake that hit Taiwan just a few hours in the past led to evacuations at TSMC, the world’s largest chipmaker. The corporate has reported minimal harm to its crucial tools, however some manufacturing traces are anticipated to face delays, and it may very well be a number of days earlier than full manufacturing can resume.
The earthquake hit Taiwan’s southern Chiayi county at 12.17am native time. In response to Taiwan’s Central Climate Administration, the epicenter was situated 38km (23 miles) southeast of Chiayi County Corridor, at a depth of 10km (6.2 miles).
The quake reportedly resulted in 27 accidents and minor harm, although it was felt 25 miles away within the metropolis of Tainan, and even within the metropolis of Taichung 124 miles away. Each cities are dwelling to Science Parks the place TSMC has fabrication services, which had been evacuated as per normal emergency procedures. Staff returned to the crops a number of hours after the quake.
TSMC is now checking for harm. It has reported minimal influence to its crucial tools, most of which have a shockproof design, and a restoration of over 70% of its instruments shortly after the quake.
EARTHQUAKE strikes the Heart of Taiwan! 🇹🇼 6.0- 6.5 28 km deep. pic.twitter.com/FRlKgsS49l
– GeoTechWar (@geotechwar) January 20, 2025
Electronics Weekly reviews that the director of the Southern Taiwan Science Park, the place TSMC’s Fab 18 (5nm and 3nm processes) and Fab 6 (eight-inch wafer fab) are situated, stated there have been no accidents. He added that tools at main crops within the science park is designed to cease throughout earthquakes.
Given the fragile and exact nature of superior chipmaking equipment, there is a chance that the earthquake may have launched errors within the manufacturing course of which may scale back the yield fee of usable chips. TSMC advised Nikkei that it may very well be a number of days earlier than manufacturing reaches full capability, which may influence its many US clients who’ve orders with the corporate booked months and even years upfront.
There have been earlier earthquakes in Taiwan that impacted the worldwide expertise provide chain. A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Taiwan’s japanese coast close to Hualien County in April 2024, resulting in momentary suspensions of operations by main chipmakers similar to TSMC and UMC. These halts had been needed to examine services and guarantee worker security, inflicting short-term disruptions in manufacturing.
There was additionally a magnitude 6.2 earthquake in 2021 that halted TSMC operations, additional straining the worldwide chip provide chain that was already struggling enormously resulting from disruptions from the Covid pandemic.
