TSMC CEO says rivals are ‘dreaming’ if they expect to catch up

TSMC ↗6.94% CEO C.C. Wei told shareholders Thursday that competitors who think they can close the gap within a decade are “dreaming.”focustaiwan
The company posted record 2025 revenue and is ramping 2nm chip production across five fabs, with capacity already sold out for 2026, according to reports.focustaiwan
Samsung and Intel ↗10.64% trail with lower yields and later timelines, while Apple ↗0.70%, Qualcomm ↗6.17%, and MediaTek are among TSMC’s first 2nm customers.wikipedia

TSMC Begins Mass Production of 2nm Chips Amid AI Demand Surge

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. has entered full-scale mass production of its 2-nanometer chips, cementing its position as the world’s only manufacturer capable of producing this advanced class of silicon at scale. At the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting on Thursday in Hsinchu, CEO C.C. Wei dismissed the prospect of competitors catching up, telling shareholders that rivals who believe they can close the gap within a decade are “dreaming.”bitget

Record Growth Fueled by AI

Wei told shareholders that TSMC delivered a record year in 2025, posting consolidated revenue of NT$3.81 trillion (US$120.98 billion), up 31.6 percent from the prior year, while diluted earnings per share jumped 46.4 percent to NT$66.25. He attributed the performance to expanding AI applications and said the company would continue investing in advanced technologies to meet customer demand.focustaiwan

Capital expenditure for 2026 is now expected to come in near the upper end of TSMC’s projected US$52 billion to US$56 billion range, Wei said, adding that he sees no indicators warranting a slowdown in spending. The company’s 2nm production, which formally commenced in the fourth quarter of 2025 at Fab 20 in Hsinchu and Fab 22 in Kaohsiung, is ramping aggressively. Five fabs are set to produce 2nm chips this year, and TSMC expects 2nm capacity to grow at a compound annual rate of 70 percent from 2026 to 2028, according to Senior Vice President Cliff Hou.electronicsforyou

Competitors Left Behind

TSMC’s technological lead appears increasingly difficult to challenge. Wei brushed aside concerns about Intel and Samsung Electronics, saying TSMC has never lacked rivals and will keep outperforming them through technology leadership and customer trust. While Samsung has begun producing its own 2nm chips, reported yields in the 50–60 percent range lag behind TSMC’s roughly 70 percent.heqingele

Industry analysts estimate TSMC maintains a three-to-five-year manufacturing lead over its nearest competitors. Reports indicate the company’s 2nm capacity is already sold out for 2026, with Apple, Qualcomm, and MediaTek among the first customers adopting the node. Monthly wafer output could reach 140,000 units by the end of 2026, nearly matching the peak capacity of its 3nm process in just one year of production.wccftech

Asked about Elon Musk’s reported plans to build a large-scale chip facility, Wei offered a brief response: “Best wishes to him.”focustaiwan