TSMC's October sales jump as global chip boom rolls on

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. on Tuesday reported October revenue of 586.89 billion New Taiwan dollars ($17.88 billion), up 59.7% from a year earlier and up 14.7% from the previous month.

The world's largest contract chipmaker benefited from strong demand for advanced semiconductors, as major technology companies continue to invest heavily in artificial intelligence.

Last month, TSMC reported a record third-quarter net profit of NT$763.1 billion, beating estimates while revenue came at NT$1.49 trillion.

The chipmaker expects capital expenditure from 2026 to 2028 to be significantly higher than in the previous three years as it continues to invest to support customer demand. Its third-quarter operating margin reached 58.7%, exceeding the upper end of its guidance range of 58%.

TSMC shares closed 2.24% higher on Tuesday, amid broader market volatility in Taiwan. The island's financial regulator last week announced tighter short-selling restrictions that took effect Monday, cutting the daily limit on intraday short-selling orders from 30% to 3%.

Separately, Taiwan's exports surged 58.9% in October from a year earlier to $96.76 billion, according to government data released Monday. Strong demand for advanced chips helped drive a 61.4% increase in electronic components exports, local media reported, citing the finance ministry.