TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.) announced that it will appropriate another NT$57.37 billion (US$1.78 Billion; US$1=NT$29.955) for upgrading 20-nm and 16-nm process technology this year, as reported by Taiwan's Economic Daily News on August 14. TSMC projects to spend between US$9.5 billion and US$10 billion on equipment in 2013, and so far has set aside around US$6.79 billion.

TSMC's Fab 14 in Tainan Science Park began trial production of 20-nm process in June, and is slated for mass production in the fourth quarter this year, beginning with a monthly capacity of 2,000 units and ramping up to 30,000 to 40,000 units in the first quarter of 2014. Meanwhile, its Fab 12 in Hsinchu Science Park is geared up for 16-nm trial runs in November, and is expected to begin mass production in 2014, according to the report.