TSMC: Reason for entering Japan: Development base for post-process
-Where is TSMC’s true intention? –
TSMC Sales by Region:
Looking at TSMC’s share of sales in the fourth quarter of 2020,
1st place: The United States is out of the picture with 73%.
2nd place: 12% in Asia excluding China,
China’s share plummeted to 6% due to the suspension of semiconductor shipments to Huawei.
Then, Europe 6% and Japan 4% (Fig. 11).
TSMC’s Foundry Business:
From TSMC’s point of view, the United States, which is the largest customer, is the most important.
“The reason for building a front-end semiconductor factory in the United States” is understandable.
However, don’t see any reason to come to Japan.
So why does TSMC “create a post-process development base in Japan?”
Why TSMC Comes to Japan:
Import of semiconductor manufacturing equipment:
The reason why TSMC is coming to Japan is
“We are importing a large number of manufacturing equipment from Japan for the front-end process” (Fig. 12).
Depends on Japan for semiconductor materials:
In other words
Silicon wafer,
Resist,
Chemical solutions such as hydrogen fluoride, etc.
Semiconductor materials are also extremely dependent on Japan.
Amount of investment in Japan this time:
In 2021, TSMC was reported to be planning to make a record $ 28 billion in capital investment.
However, the investment amount for post-process / development bases in Japan is only 20 billion yen.
It will be possible to “prototype and develop excellent next-generation manufacturing equipment and materials with an investment amount of 20 billion yen” at a development base in Japan.
After trial production and development in Japan, a large-scale post-process factory can be built in Taiwan.
All you have to do is arrange the equipment and materials made in Japan there.
[Addition]
TSMC Dates February 9: News Release
“We have approved the establishment of a wholly owned subsidiary of 18.6 billion yen in Japan to expand 3DIC materials research.”
Purpose of 3DIC material development:
It turned out that the purpose of TSMC’s post-process base in Japan is to “develop materials for three-dimensional packaging (3DIC).”
Good news for Japanese material makers:
“Japanese post-process / material manufacturer”
Joint development with TSMC is expected to expand business opportunities.
Unfortunately, there are no business opportunities for post-process / equipment manufacturers.
Relations with China:
TSMC
Even in the previous process
Even in the post-process
The manufacturing equipment and materials used for it,
Almost all are procured from Japan, the United States and Europe.
TSMC
Manufacture semiconductors in the previous process
When packaging in the post-process,
Nothing depends on China.
TSMC’s establishment of a post-process development base in Japan has nothing to do with “suppressing the influence of China.”
Business journal
https://biz-journal.jp/2021/02/post_207910.html
TSMC Board of Directors Meeting Resolutions
5. Approved the establishment of a wholly-owned subsidiary in Japan
to expand our 3DIC material research,
with a paid-in capital of not more than ¥18.6 billion (approximately US$186 million).