TSMC Faces Record Profits Amid AI Chip Shortage

Chinese coverage highlights that strong forecasts from ASML and TSMC show how AI chip demand is concentrating power in a few foreign suppliers. Commentators in this block stress that China’s tech sector remains heavily dependent on overseas lithography tools and advanced foundry services. They expect Beijing to keep pushing domestic chipmaking and equipment firms to close the gap, while still needing to work around export controls and supply limits.

• •ASML’s raised 2026 outlook underlines Europe’s central role in supplying advanced chipmaking tools to the world.
• •TSMC’s expected record profits show that leading-edge AI chip production is still dominated by Taiwan.
• •Chinese cloud and internet companies must secure capacity at TSMC and other foreign foundries for their AI projects.
• •Export controls on advanced lithography tools complicate Chinese efforts to match ASML’s capabilities.
• •Beijing is likely to increase support for local chip equipment makers to reduce reliance on ASML over time.

African business coverage focuses on how TSMC’s capacity limits and record profit prospects could affect access to AI hardware in emerging markets. Commentators warn that when demand outstrips output at top foundries, smaller buyers in Africa and other regions may face longer waits and higher prices. They expect local firms to rely more on cloud-based AI services from global providers rather than owning the latest chips themselves.