TSMC will build one more 3-nanometer fab in Tainan, with volume production scheduled for the first half of 2028, chief executive C.C. Wei said on the company’s third-quarter 2026 earnings call on 15 October. The company did not give a construction cost for the new plant.
What Wei said about 3nm
Wei said that historically TSMC does not add capacity to a node once it reaches its targeted capacity. “However … we are executing well on our global capacity plan to add three new fabs to support the robust multi-year pipeline of demand for 3-nanometer technologies.”
Volume production for a new 3-nanometer fab already planned in Tainan Science Park “is well on track to begin in the first half of 2027.” Separately, “driven by strong demand from our customer, we have decided to add one additional 3-nanometer fab in Tainan. Volume production is scheduled for the first half of 2028.”
Other capacity notes from the call
In Arizona, Wei said the second fab has reached construction completion and is in tool move-in and installation, with volume production in the third quarter of 2027, “slightly ahead of our previous schedule.” In Japan, the second fab is to use 3nm, with volume production scheduled in 2028.
TSMC is “spending at an unprecedented” pace, with “near 20 fabs worldwide in progress,” including “13 leading-edge and advanced-packaging fabs in Taiwan over the next several years and another 5 to 6 fabs overseas,” Wei said. He also said N2 family annual capacity is expected to “more than double by 2027,” with A14 risk production in 2027 and volume production in 2028.
CFO Wendell Huang reiterated a full-year 2026 capital budget of US$60–64 billion. Wei said full-year 2026 revenue growth is expected to be “around 44% year over year in US dollar terms.”
Texas / Terafab — discussions only
Asked about Texas and a customer’s “Terafab,” Wei said TSMC sent teams to Texas to evaluate options and is “still in discussion” with a customer about using that capacity. He added that “the fab has got to be run by Taiwan Semiconductor.” There is no concluded deal.
What this means
- The new Tainan 3nm fab is a firm capacity decision on the call. Volume production is slated for 1H 2028.
- It sits beside an earlier Tainan 3nm ramp. That one remains on track for 1H 2027.
- Texas remains open-ended. Wei framed Terafab talks as ongoing, with TSMC insisting it would run any fab.
Sources
- TSMC Q3 2026 earnings call, 15 October 2026 (webcast via TSMC IR). Transcript via Benzinga automated transcription, 15 October 2026. https://www.benzinga.com/news/26/10/62373492/taiwan-semiconductor-reports-q3-2026-results-full-earnings-call-transcript
- TSMC investor relations, Quarterly Results 2026 Q3. https://investor.tsmc.com/english/quarterly-results/2026/q3
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