Someone just paid a 15%-20% premium on March 3, 2021, 11:03 17 comments What just happened? We've long heard that semiconductor manufacturers are working through a backlog of orders as they struggle to alleviate worldwide chip shortages, so it seems strange to learn that TSMC has just auctioned off its "excess" capacity. According to ComputerBase sources (via PC Gamer), TSMC recently auctioned off its excess wafer capacity "to the highest bidders." No word on what the excess capacity might be or the bidders' identity, though it's thought to have gone to the automotive industry. Rumors of a bidding system for chip capacity at Taiwan's foundries have surfaced again, media report, saying the system is in place and excess capacity for the 2nd quarter has gone to the highest bidders at a 15%-20% premium. $UMC$TSM#semiconductors