人工智慧需求旺盛，台積電獲利超出預期

台積電是全球最大的晶片代工製造商，其產品廣泛應用於從蘋果 iPhone 到英偉達尖端產品等各種產品。

Taiwanese chipmaking giant TSMC on Thursday announced a better-than-expected net profit for the fourth quarter as it benefits from booming demand for AI technology.

台灣晶片製造巨擘台積電週四宣布，第四季淨利好於預期，受益於人工智慧技術需求的旺盛。

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is the world's largest contract maker of chips that are used in everything from Apple's iPhones to Nvidia's cutting-edge artificial intelligence hardware.

台積電是全球最大的晶片代工製造商，其晶片廣泛應用於從蘋果 iPhone 到英偉達尖端人工智慧硬體等各種產品中。

The firm said net profit for the three months to December jumped 57 percent on-year to NT$374.7 billion (US$11.4 billion).

該公司表示，截至 12 月的三個月淨利潤年增 57%，達到 3,747 億新台幣（114 億美元）。

That was better than the NT$369.8 billion forecast by analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News, and underscores expectations for sustained spending on AI infrastructure from the likes of Microsoft and Amazon.

這比彭博新聞社調查的分析師預測的 3,698 億新台幣，並突顯了微軟和亞馬遜等公司對人工智慧基礎設施持續支出的預期。

Net revenue for the fourth quarter rose 38.8 percent to NT$868.46 billion, TMSC said, beating forecasts.

TMSC表示，第四季淨收入成長38.8%，達到新台幣8,684.6億元，超出預期。

For the full year, net profit reached NT$1.2 trillion, up 40.5 percent.

全年淨利達到新台幣1.2兆元，成長40.5%。

The firm said last week that net revenue rose 33.9 percent to NT$2.9 trillion.

該公司上週表示，淨收入成長 33.9%，達到新台幣 2.9 兆元。

"We expect 2025 to be another strong growth year for TSMC" as AI-related demand continues to surge, chairman and chief executive C.C. Wei told an earnings conference.

董事長兼執行長 CC Wei 在財報會議上表示，隨著人工智慧相關需求持續激增，「我們預計 2025 年將是台積電又一個強勁成長的一年」。

TSMC's Taiwan shares surged 3.76 percent to close at NT$1,105 ahead of the announcement.

消息公佈前，台積電台灣股價飆漲 3.76%，收在新台幣 1,105 元。

The briefing was held as Nvidia boss Jensen Huang visited Taiwan where the government says the US chip giant plans to establish its Asia headquarters.

這場簡報會是在英偉達老闆黃仁勳訪問台灣之際舉行的，台灣政府表示，這家美國晶片巨頭計劃在台灣設立亞洲總部。

TSMC's full year revenue was expected to increase "by close to mid-20s percent in US dollar terms", Wei said.

魏表示，預計台積電全年營收將「以美元計算成長近 20% 左右」。

Taiwan's largest company is at the forefront of the AI revolution but it has been grappling with geopolitical tensions between Beijing and Washington over technology, trade and Taiwan.

這家台灣最大的公司處於人工智慧革命的最前沿，但它一直在努力應對北京和華盛頓之間在技術、貿易和台灣問題上的地緣政治緊張局勢。

The United States this week tightened controls on high-end chip exports as it seeks to curb the flow of the advanced technology to China.

美國本週加強了對高階晶片出口的控制，試圖遏制先進技術流向中國。

Wei said the company was still analysing the potential impact from the US restrictions, but it appeared "manageable".

魏表示，該公司仍在分析美國限制措施的潛在影響，但似乎「可控」。

He added that TSMC would apply for "special permits" for customers and the company was confident that those not involved in AI would get "some permission".

他補充說，台積電將為客戶申請“特別許可證”，該公司有信心那些不涉及人工智慧的客戶將獲得“一些許可”。

TSMC has been under pressure to move more of its production away from Taiwan, where the bulk of its fabrication plants are located.

台積電一直面臨著將更多生產遷出台灣的壓力，而台積電的製造工廠大多位於台灣。

While Taiwan is a self-ruled island, China claims it as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control.

雖然台灣是一個自治島嶼，但中國聲稱它是其領土的一部分，並威脅要使用武力將其置於其控制之下。

TSMC's new factories overseas include three planned in the United States and one that opened in Japan last year. It is also moving into Europe.

台積電的海外新工廠包括計劃在美國開設的三座工廠和去年在日本開設的一座工廠。它還正在進軍歐洲。

The United States will award TSMC up to US$6.6 billion in direct funding to help build "state-of-the-art facilities in Arizona", officials said in November, finalising the deal before Donald Trump enters the White House.

官員們去年 11 月表示，美國將向台積電提供高達 66 億美元的直接資金，幫助其建設“亞利桑那州最先進的設施”，並在唐納德·特朗普入主白宮之前敲定了該協議。

The funding is part of efforts to revive US manufacturing and secure the country's access to chips.

這筆資金是振興美國製造業和確保該國獲得晶片的努力的一部分。

"Let me assure you that we have a very frank and open communication with the current (US) government and with the future one also," Wei said.

「讓我向你們保證，我們與現任（美國）政府以及未來的政府進行了非常坦誠和開放的溝通，」魏說。

TSMC's expansion overseas drove a surge in Taiwanese foreign direct investment in 2024, Bloomberg reported, citing figures from the Economic Ministry.

彭博社引述經濟部的數據報導，台積電的海外擴張推動了 2024 年台灣外國直接投資的激增。

Bloomberg said the data showed a "decoupling" from China, with investment in Japan and the United States by Taiwanese companies hitting a record as investment in China stagnated.

彭博社稱，數據顯示與中國“脫鉤”，台灣企業對日本和美國的投資創下紀錄，對中國的投資停滯不前。