Sina Technology News, February 6th afternoon — A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Kaohsiung, Taiwan today, according to the China Earthquake Network. The tremor has raised concerns about potential disruptions in the semiconductor and electronics supply chain, especially for major companies like TSMC and other key manufacturers.
Local reports suggest that TSMC, the world's largest chipmaker and a key supplier for Apple, as well as panel makers such as AU Optronics, have experienced some level of disruption. This could lead to delays in Apple's supply chain from June to July this year, depending on how quickly production can be restored.
According to Bloomberg, all employees at TSMC’s two wafer fabrication plants were evacuated during the quake but have since returned after safety checks were completed. Meanwhile, Innolux, a major display manufacturer, had four of its eight plants in Tainan automatically shut down due to the shaking. These facilities are now gradually resuming operations. Plants located in Hsinchu were not affected by the incident.
Reports indicate that there may be damage to certain chips within TSMC’s facilities, potentially including the A9 processor used in Apple devices. Other clients, such as MediaTek and HiSilicon, might also face supply issues.
TSMC uses a 16nm process to manufacture the A9 chip, which involves up to 80 layers of mask exposure. Each layer requires 3–4 days to complete. If an earthquake occurs before the exposure is finalized, it could cause misalignment, leading to defective products.
Industry estimates suggest that Apple produces around 37 million A9 processors per quarter, with TSMC manufacturing approximately 17 million units. The production-to-delivery cycle takes about four and a half months, and if TSMC resumes full operations within 2–3 days, the impact on Apple’s supply chain is expected to be noticeable in June or July. Some analysts estimate the potential loss could reach up to NT$10 billion.
A spokesperson from Taiwan Semiconductor News, Sun Youwen, confirmed that no casualties were reported, and the main buildings remained undamaged. However, some wafers in the furnace tube area were damaged due to the intense shaking and are currently under inspection. Employees from the Nankang plant have returned to work to clean up the aftermath, while additional staff from Hsinchu and Zhongke factories have been deployed to assist. Production is expected to resume within 2–3 days, and officials stated that shipments for the first quarter are unlikely to be affected.
This event highlights the vulnerability of global tech supply chains to natural disasters, particularly in regions where critical manufacturing hubs are located. As companies assess the extent of the damage, the long-term implications for device production and delivery schedules remain to be seen.
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