TSMC confirms Kumamoto JASM fab has returned to full operations after magnitude 7.1 earthquake

TSMC’s Kumamoto-based JASM fab is back online and running at full capacity after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake rattled Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture on July 28. The chipmaker confirmed that structural inspections came back clean, employees were safe, and equipment calibration has been completed. What happened and why it matters The earthquake struck around 4:00 PM local time, registering upper-5 seismic intensity at the fab site. TSMC moved quickly. Inspections confirmed no major structural damage, and operations gradually returned to normal. The company noted that JASM accounts for less than 3% of its total production capacity. JASM began commercial production at the end of 2024, currently churning out roughly 55,000 12-inch wafers per month. Total investment in the joint venture exceeds $20 billion, with partial backing from the Japanese government. TSMC’s partners in the venture include Sony, DENSO, and Toyota. A second JASM fab is under construction nearby, with operational capacity expected by late 2027. Some construction work was temporarily halted as a precautionary measure following the quake. The semiconductor supply chain held up The broader semiconductor supply chain did not ...