TSMC profit surges again after AI drives big jump in sales

[TAIPEI] Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) reported a better-than-expected 61 per cent jump in profit for the June quarter, bolstering confidence in the momentum of the global artificial intelligence (AI) spending spree.

The world’s biggest contract chipmaker on Thursday (Jul 16) said net income for the period was NT$398.3 billion (S$17.4 billion), extending a streak of beating analysts’ estimates that dates back to 2021. The company previously posted a 39 per cent surge in revenue.

TSMC’s performance underscores resilient demand for high-end AI chips from the likes of Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices, which is outpacing its production capacity.

Chief executive officer CC Wei affirmed in a shareholder meeting in June that AI orders continue to run hot and TSMC anticipates 2025 sales will grow in the mid-20 per cent range in US dollar terms.

The company’s revenue has grown roughly 40 per cent over the first half of the year, even with a stronger Taiwanese dollar suppressing that figure. It’s pledged to spend another US$100 billion ramping up manufacturing in Arizona, in addition to an expansion in Japan, Germany and back home.

A day before TSMC’s results, key chipmaking gear supplier ASML Holding triggered anxiety across markets by walking back its growth forecast for 2026.

Geopolitics and the global economy are sources of “increasing uncertainty”, chief executive officer Christophe Fouquet said. Its shares dropped more than 11 per cent. BLOOMBERG