Delayed delivery request: TSMC pleasantly implores ASML to withhold machinery, as American factory construction proceeds sluggishly; chip demand may prove less substantial than anticipated.

The Roiters news agency reported that two undisclosed sources claim that TSMC has requested a delay in the delivery of chip-making equipment from ASML. The reason for this delay is attributed to the slow construction progress of the factory in Arizona, as well as lower-than-expected chip demand.

ASML’s CEO, Peter Wennink, previously acknowledged that there are some chip manufacturers requesting an actual delay in equipment delivery, without specifying which companies. However, he emphasized that these delays are only for short-term management purposes, and ASML is currently operating at full production capacity.

The TSMC factory in Arizona is intended to serve as a production site for chips originally destined for the United States, as indicated by Apple. Initially, the factory was scheduled to start production by the end of 2024, but the timeline has been pushed back to 2025. TSMC themselves have also reported a decrease in chip orders since the beginning of this year.

TLDR: TSMC reportedly requested a delay in the delivery of chip-making equipment from ASML due to the slow construction progress of their Arizona factory and lower-than-expected chip demand. ASML’s CEO confirmed that some chip manufacturers have requested short-term delays in equipment delivery. The TSMC factory in Arizona, intended for chip production in the United States, is now scheduled to start operations in 2025 instead of 2024.