Core Viewpoint - The article argues that the advancements in China's semiconductor industry, particularly in 7nm and 5nm chip technologies, are significant and not merely experimental, countering claims made by U.S. officials about China's capabilities [1][3][6]. Group 1: 7nm Chip Technology - SMIC has made notable progress in its N+2 process technology, achieving a yield rate exceeding 70%, which is a substantial step towards mass production, challenging the notion that these are just "laboratory samples" [3]. - The domestic semiconductor supply chain is improving, with enhanced purity of semiconductor-grade silicon wafers and photoresists, reducing chip failure rates and supporting the mass production of 7nm chips [3]. - Huawei's Mate60 series smartphones demonstrate the successful commercialization of 7nm chips, with strong sales reflecting consumer acceptance and market performance [3]. Group 2: 5nm Chip Technology - Chinese researchers have innovatively utilized DUV lithography combined with self-aligned quadruple patterning (SAQP) to achieve 5nm-level precision, overcoming the limitations posed by the lack of EUV technology [5]. - The collaboration of high-resolution photoresists and carbon-based semiconductor materials has led to a 30% increase in transistor density and doubled heat dissipation efficiency, laying the groundwork for 5nm chip performance optimization [5]. - SMIC's advancements in 5nm technology and the establishment of multiple 5nm wafer fabs in the Yangtze River Delta are expected to boost domestic chip self-sufficiency to over 45% by 2025, with automotive-grade chip installation rates nearing 50% [5]. Group 3: U.S. Response and Implications - The U.S. attempts to isolate China's technology sector may backfire, potentially leading to scenarios where American industries need to source 28nm chips from China due to global oversupply of mature chips [6]. - The reliance on Chinese resources such as rare earths and gallium may expose vulnerabilities in the U.S. supply chain, particularly in military and renewable energy sectors [6]. - The comments made by U.S. officials are seen as an effort to rally domestic support while misleading international opinion to hinder China's semiconductor industry collaboration [6].

反噬来了！北美芯片价格暴跌66%，外媒：简直是"灭顶之灾"！ 这些数据表明中国的芯片不仅在数量上占据了优势，还在价格上与欧美竞争对手拉开了差距，这正是欧美厂商最为头痛的部分。价格战的背后是中国芯 片产业强大产业链的支撑，这让欧美厂商难以应对。 在这种价格优势的带动下，中国的中低端芯片已经成为全球各大行业的重要选择，尤其是在欧美市场。低价芯片的涌入，不仅仅让美国本土芯片厂商的 利润下降，还让许多科技产品的生产成本被迫下降，进一步加剧了欧美企业的压力。 面对中国芯片的猛烈进攻，美国的很多芯片厂商已经感受到了生存压力。比如美国碳化硅晶圆巨头Wolfspeed在过去三年里的业绩下滑了96%，不得不裁 员20%；美国微控制器巨头微芯科技也在2024年第四季度营收暴跌了41.9%。他们还不得不关闭部分工厂，以应对市场低迷。 美国一直在高喊"打压中国芯片"，事情的走向却让他们有点措手不及。2024年随着中国在芯片产业中迅猛发展，北美市场上的芯片价格开始暴跌，这一 反转让很多西方媒体开始担忧，甚至有人称这是一场"灭顶之灾"。到底发生了什么？我们又该如何理解这一变局？ 近几年中国在芯片领域的进步可谓飞速。特别是在中低端芯片的生 ...

Core Insights - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) reported second-quarter 2025 earnings per share (EPS) of $2.47, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 60.7% and surpassing Zacks Consensus Estimates by 4.2% [1][10] - TSM's net revenues for the second quarter reached $30.07 billion, marking a 44.4% increase year over year and exceeding Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.1% [1][10] Financial Performance - TSM's revenue distribution by platform in the second quarter was as follows: high-performance computing (60%), smartphone (27%), Internet of Things (5%), automotive (5%), digital consumer electronics (1%), and other segments (2%) [2] - The largest contribution to wafer revenues came from 5nm technology, accounting for 36% of total wafer revenues, followed by 3nm at 24% and 7nm at 14% [3][4] - Geographically, North America was the dominant contributor, accounting for 75% of total revenues, while China and the Asia Pacific region each contributed 9%, Japan 4%, and EMEA 3% [5] Margins and Cash Flow - TSM's gross margin was reported at 58.6%, an expansion of 540 basis points year over year, while the operating margin was 49.6%, expanding 710 basis points [6] - The net profit margin stood at 42.7%, reflecting an increase of 590 basis points [6] - As of June 30, 2025, TSM had cash and cash equivalents totaling $90.36 billion, an increase from $81.4 billion at the end of the previous quarter [7] Guidance - For the third quarter of 2025, TSM expects revenues to range between $31.8 billion and $33.0 billion, with a projected gross profit margin between 55.5% and 57.5% and an operating profit margin between 45.5% and 47.5% [9] - For the entirety of 2025, TSM anticipates a revenue increase of approximately 30% in U.S. dollars [9]

Core Viewpoint - TSMC's wafer production costs in Arizona are only about 10% higher than those in Taiwan, contrary to the belief that U.S. production is prohibitively expensive [1][2]. Cost Factors - Equipment costs account for over two-thirds of semiconductor production costs, and prices for tools from leading manufacturers are similar in both Taiwan and the U.S., mitigating location-based cost differences [2]. - Labor costs in the U.S. are approximately three times higher than in Taiwan; however, due to advanced automation, labor constitutes less than 2% of total costs in wafer manufacturing [2]. TSMC's Production and Logistics - TSMC's wafers produced in Arizona are sent back to Taiwan for cutting, testing, and packaging, complicating logistics but not significantly increasing costs. TSMC plans to build packaging capacity in the U.S. [2]. - TSMC reportedly charges a 30% premium for chips produced in the U.S. [2]. Revenue Distribution by Node - In 2024, nearly 50% of TSMC's revenue will come from nodes that are five years old or older, such as 7nm and above, contrasting with Intel's strategy of shutting down older nodes [3][4]. - Advanced nodes (3nm and 5nm combined) contribute 52% of revenue but only 27% of profit, indicating that profitability is still developing for these newer technologies [6][9]. Profitability Insights - The 3nm and 5nm nodes were reported to be operating at a loss in 2023, but profitability is expected to improve as production ramps up [9]. - TSMC's financial health is bolstered by older nodes that have fully depreciated, while newer nodes still carry depreciation costs [11]. Methodology - The analysis of TSMC's profitability by node involves estimating costs based on revenue shares and accounting for depreciation, R&D, and operational expenses [12].