TSMC Production Halt: Taiwan Earthquake Triggers Tech Supply Chain Concerns

The recent earthquake in Taiwan has forced TSMC, the world's largest semiconductor manufacturer, to halt operations and evacuate its staff, leading to significant production disruptions. Damage to the infrastructure has been extensive, with key facilities like EUV lithography machines being particularly affected. This incident has raised alarms over potential delays and shortages in the global technology supply chain, given TSMC's critical role in supplying companies like Apple, NVIDIA, Sony, and AMD.

The structural damage, including broken beams and cracked walls in research labs, underscores the severity of the earthquake's impact. As the tech industry braces for the ripple effects, the focus is on assessing the full extent of the damage and the timeline for resuming full-scale production. The event may result in increased prices and scarcity of tech products, highlighting the fragility of global supply chains in face of natural disasters.