Taiwan chipmaker TSMC explores Texas investment to expand production

A security guard stands watch outside a Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. building in Hsinchu, Taiwan.

CHAN HO-HIM

HONG KONG — Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., is exploring building a plant in Texas to expand its chip production in the United States, the advanced chipmaker said after posting another record quarterly profit, sending its licence demand surging during earnings conference call with analysts on Thursday.

“We sent the teams to Texas to do the evaluation,” Chief Executive Officer C.C. Wei said, adding the plan is still under deliberation.

TSMC’s discussions with Texas added, stressing a plant in Texas must be run by TSMC.

“We’ve been in discussions this month there have been exchanges with TSMC over its potential role in Texas, but also said we will build and run the facility ourselves,” Wei said, confirming earlier media reports.