[News] TEL President Reportedly Set for September Taiwan Visit to Meet TSMC Execs After 2nm Data Leak

TSMC has recently faced a confidential 2nm data leak involving staff from its 2nm pilot line and a former employee at Tokyo Electron. According to TechNews, sources say Tokyo Electron President Toshiki Kawai may visit Taiwan in September to meet with TSMC executives during SEMICON Taiwan.

The Japanese company, one of the world’s largest suppliers of chipmaking tools, is now struggling to manage the potential fallout with one of its biggest customers and with the governments in Tokyo and Taipei, according to Bloomberg. Sources also indicate that TSMC may seek damages from Tokyo Electron once it obtains relevant evidence from prosecutors, TechNews reports.

Bloomberg further notes that Tokyo Electron has dismissed an employee at its Taipei unit in connection with the case and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

Tokyo Electron’s Role in the 2nm Power Struggle

The sensitivity of the case is heightened by Tokyo Electron’s position in the industry. As highlighted by UDN News and Liberty Times, the company is not only a key equipment supplier to TSMC but also closely tied to Rapidus, Japan’s state-backed 2nm rival.

Tokyo Electron’s latest earnings show that Taiwan accounted for about 20% of its sales over the past two quarters—its second-largest market after China—with TSMC clearly one of its most important customers.

At the same time, Japan is advancing its semiconductor ambitions. According to Storm Media, Rapidus is building an alliance of top-tier Japanese firms—including Tokyo Electron, SCREEN Holdings, Kioxia, and JSR—backed by the government and supported by U.S. tech partnerships led by IBM. The aim, the report adds, is to establish a supply chain independent of Taiwan, South Korea, and China, paving the way for Japan’s semiconductor revival.

 Geopolitics and Weak Demand Weigh on TEL

Meanwhile, Bloomberg notes that about 40% of  Tokyo Electron’s sales come from China, but that business has been hit by U.S. export restrictions. The company is barred from selling some of its most advanced tools to China, while Beijing is investing billions to foster domestic chip equipment makers.

The reported involvement in TSMC’s 2nm data leak has added pressure at a challenging moment for TEL. According to The Japan Times, Tokyo Electron has cut its full-year earnings forecast below expectations, citing weak investment from some advanced logic manufacturers and a slowdown in chip equipment spending in China.

Read more

• [News] TSMC’s 2nm Data Leak Exposes Fragile Triangle: TEL, Rapidus, and Taiwan-Japan Semiconductor Clash
• [News] TSMC Reportedly Fires Staff over Suspected 2nm Leak Ahead of Mass Production

(Photo credit: TEL’s LinkedIn)