The world’s largest chipmaker told the BBC that inflation‑driven cost pressures could necessitate price adjustments, though it will not introduce sudden, massive hikes.
TSMC’s chief financial officer, Wendell Huang, stressed that the company’s “technology leadership” and “manufacturing excellence” keep it well positioned, but higher costs would gradually influence pricing.
In a separate interview, CEO CC Wei signalled that the firm might “like” to raise prices, echoing competitors’ moves as demand for AI chips surges.
All of this comes against a backdrop of escalating US‑China trade tensions, with the U.S. urging chipmakers to move production out of Taiwan to secure its supply chains. TSMC, however, made clear that expansion in the U.S., Germany and Japan is driven by customer demand, not government pressure.
Huang noted that the most cutting‑edge production will remain in Taiwan, and moving the entire ecosystem to the U.S. would take “five or ten years, or even longer,” adding a reality check to U.S. industrial policy ambitions.
The company warns that inflating costs are a concern but that it remains confident in the AI megatrend, citing strong customer footing from hyper‑scale firms that can continue to invest in the industry.
