As reported by Nikkei Asia, citing informed sources, owing to the fact that key clients of TSMC, like NVIDIA, are pivoting towards more sophisticated chips, there has been a downturn in the demand for the 6nm and 7nm chips that were initially slated for production at Kumamoto Plant 2. In light of this situation, TSMC is contemplating an upgrade of the process technology at Kumamoto Plant 2 to the more advanced 4nm technology.

Such a transition could potentially lead to a postponement of the plant's mass-production schedule. Additionally, it might necessitate a redesign of the facility, which could in turn delay the original mass-production plan that was set for the end of 2027. According to Nikkei, construction activities at Kumamoto Plant 2 have come to a halt at present. Nearly all the large-scale construction machinery has been cleared away, and suppliers have also verified that they have received notifications to cease work.

When questioned about the rumors surrounding the suspension of work at Kumamoto Plant 2, TSMC has refrained from either confirming or denying them. The company simply stated that the Japan project will keep moving forward and declined to offer any comments on market rumors or speculations.