Currently, there are two 2nm wafer production bases established by TSMC in its home base, which will eventually reach maximum production capacity within a few years and be able to meet the demands of multiple customers such as Apple, Qualcomm, and MediaTek. The company reportedly started small-scale production at its Baoshan facility with a monthly output of 5,000 wafers after reaching a yield of 60% in prototype production with 2nm technology. In terms of advancements, a new N2P variant has also been launched, serving as an improved version of the company’s first generation 2nm process.
The advanced 2nm “N2P” node is said to enter mass production in 2026, with TSMC reportedly aiming to successfully start manufacturing the first iteration in 2025.
TSMC has Baoshan and Kaohsiung factories that continue to reach new production levels to meet the ever-increasing demand for 2nm wafers. According to Economic Daily, Taiwan’s leading companies have started small-scale production using advanced lithography, but current production capacity is limited to 5,000 wafers. However, previous reports stated that the company reached 10,000 units during the pilot and that figure is expected to reach 50,000 units later this year.
It is estimated that by 2026, the number will reach 80,000 units, but it is not confirmed whether it is for both N2 and N2P processes or just one. We reported that once the Baoshan and Kaohsiung factories start operating, TSMC could reach monthly production of 40,000 wafers. Other foundries have not been able to keep up with manufacturers in terms of advancements, so it’s no surprise that the majority of companies determined to push forward with cutting-edge silicon turn to TSMC’s services. .
Perhaps the only concern expressed by these companies is the high price of wafers, estimated to reach $30,000. The rising cost of the 2nm process will always be a lump sum deal, but TSMC is exploring new ways to reduce total bills, starting with a service called “CyberShuttle” launching later this year in April. It is reported that. This approach allows companies like Apple, Qualcomm and others to evaluate chips on the same test wafer, reducing costs.
Additionally, if TSMC produces relatively large quantities of 2nm wafers, economies of scale could help balance out costs and make manufacturers’ customers pay less. But for that to happen, both Baoshan and Kaohsiung factories will need to operate at 100% capacity. As always, we’ll be monitoring TSMC’s progress this year and keeping our readers updated below, so stay tuned.
News source: Economic Daily
