TSMC Sees 5G Driving Strong Demand for 7nm

By Alan Patterson, EETimes
July 22, 2019

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) sees 5-nm and 7-nm demand improving from its earlier expectations, as the worldwide 5G development accelerates.

Demand is so strong that the company is preparing to raise its full-year capital expenditure to more than $11 billion, the high end of its target at the beginning of 2019, TSMC said in its second-quarter results.

TSMC said it may need to increase 2019 capex to accelerate the installation of tools for 5nm production next year.

The company's most advanced 7nm node is poised to become its new cash cow, as it accounted for 21% of revenue in the second quarter, compared with 10nm at 3% and 16nm at 23%. Those three nodes made up 47% of total sales, increasing from 42% in the first quarter.

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