TSMC Posts Record-High Q1 Net Profit of NT$572.5 Billion Despite Iran War
by Hwang Yoonju
Published 17 Apr.2026 00:14(KST)
Net Profit Soars 58.3% Year-on-Year
Optimistic Outlook for Second-Quarter Revenue
Annual Revenue Expected to Grow by 30%
Taiwan's TSMC recorded its highest-ever quarterly net profit in the first quarter of this year, driven by strong demand for artificial intelligence (AI) despite the ongoing war in Iran. The company also projected that short-term supply chain disruptions would be limited, anticipating that annual revenue would increase by more than 30% this year.
According to Bloomberg and other sources on April 16 (local time), TSMC announced in its earnings report that its net profit for the first quarter rose by 58.3% year-on-year to 572.5 billion New Taiwan dollars (approximately 26.7 trillion won). This figure surpassed the market consensus compiled by Bloomberg, which was 542.4 billion New Taiwan dollars (around 25.3 trillion won).
Previously, TSMC had reported that its March revenue was a monthly record, increasing by 45.2% year-on-year to 415.19 billion New Taiwan dollars (about 19.3 trillion won), while its first-quarter revenue also hit a quarterly record, growing by 35.1% year-on-year to 1.1341 trillion New Taiwan dollars (approximately 52.9 trillion won).
In the first quarter, the 3-nanometer (nm), 5-nanometer, and 7-nanometer process nodes accounted for 25%, 36%, and 13% of revenue, respectively. These advanced processes together made up 74% of the total revenue, significantly contributing to the increase in net profit. TSMC is putting greater focus on the 3-nanometer process used in smartphones and AI products and is expanding its manufacturing plants in Taiwan, the United States, and Japan. Bloomberg noted that, despite the outbreak of war at the end of February, the AI investment boom has not subsided.
TSMC also offered an optimistic outlook for its second-quarter revenue. TSMC Chairman Mark Liu said, "The current situation in the Middle East adds to macroeconomic uncertainty, so we are planning our business carefully." He added, however, that "demand related to AI remains very robust" and reiterated, "We maintain strong confidence that our revenue will increase by more than 30% in US dollar terms this year."
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