TSMC Reportedly Prepping To Build First 1.4nm Facility Ahead Of Schedule, With An Initial Investment That Could Soar To $49 Billion
Mass production of TSMC’s 2nm process is scheduled to begin in Q4 2025, but the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer is already looking further ahead. According to a new report from Economic News Daily, TSMC is moving forward ahead of schedule with the construction of its first 1.4nm (A14, Angstrom) fabrication plant. Groundbreaking is reportedly set for October, with an initial investment that could reach NT$1.5 trillion (≈ $49 billion USD).
Fab 25: The Future of Angstrom Manufacturing
The facility, dubbed Fab 25, will be located at the Central Taiwan Science Park near Taichung City. It will house four separate plants, with the first expected to begin trial production by late 2027. If the timeline holds, full-scale production could begin by the second half of 2028.
The 1.4nm node is expected to deliver:
15% performance improvement
30% power savings compared to the 2nm process
Suppliers have reportedly been informed by TSMC to prepare for expedited equipment delivery to meet this accelerated timeline.
Interestingly, reports also suggest that TSMC already has plans to explore 1nm lithography, although no timeframe has been mentioned for trial runs of this next step.
Rising Costs and Industry Impact
While the move to 1.4nm would solidify TSMC’s lead in the advanced node race, it won’t come cheap. Customers are already facing steep wafer costs at the 2nm level, estimated at $30,000 per wafer. For A14 production, early estimates suggest prices could rise to around $45,000 per wafer, putting additional financial pressure on chip designers like Apple, NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel who rely on TSMC for their most advanced products.
Given the growing demand from AI, data centers, and high-performance computing, it’s no surprise TSMC is moving aggressively. The firm is not just maintaining its lead - it’s extending it, even as rivals like Samsung and Intel accelerate their own roadmaps.
Do you think customers will accept wafer costs hitting $45,000 at 1.4nm, or will this force a slowdown in adoption? Let us know your thoughts below.
