Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, has begun gradually restoring operations at its Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing (JASM) facility in Kumamoto after a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s southern Kyushu region, prompting a precautionary evacuation of employees.
The earthquake, which hit Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, caused widespread disruption across southern Japan, damaging infrastructure and affecting several manufacturing facilities. As part of its emergency response protocol, TSMC immediately evacuated workers from the Kumamoto plant to ensure their safety.
Employees Safe, Operations Restart
TSMC confirmed that all employees at the facility were safely evacuated and accounted for following the earthquake.
In a statement, the company said post-earthquake structural inspections found no damage to the plant’s buildings, allowing production activities to resume gradually. However, detailed inspections of semiconductor manufacturing equipment and assessments of any potential operational impact remain ongoing.
Construction Site Unaffected
The company also stated that the construction site for the second phase of its Kumamoto expansion project was not damaged by the earthquake.
As a precaution, however, parts of the construction work have been temporarily suspended due to the possibility of aftershocks in the region.
Major Hub for Global Chip Supply
The JASM facility in Kumamoto plays a critical role in global semiconductor manufacturing. The plant, a joint venture between TSMC, Sony Semiconductor Solutions, Denso, and Toyota, produces chips used in automobiles, industrial equipment, and consumer electronics.
The first fabrication plant began commercial production in late 2024, while a second fab is currently under construction to expand advanced chip production capacity in Japan.
Broader Impact on Supply Chains
The earthquake disrupted operations across Kyushu, one of Japan’s key semiconductor and automotive manufacturing hubs. Several major companies, including Toyota, Honda, Sony, Renesas Electronics, and Tokyo Electron, temporarily halted production or carried out safety inspections at their facilities.
Although TSMC’s plant is resuming operations, industry experts continue to monitor the situation closely, as prolonged aftershocks or infrastructure disruptions could affect global semiconductor supply chains.
Industry Monitoring Situation
The rapid resumption of operations at TSMC’s Kumamoto plant has helped ease immediate concerns about disruptions to global chip supplies. Nevertheless, authorities continue to assess earthquake damage across the region, while companies remain on alert for potential aftershocks.
With demand for semiconductors remaining strong—particularly for automotive and artificial intelligence applications—the stability of production at TSMC’s Japan facility is considered vital to maintaining global supply chain resilience.
