TSMC Stayed Open Through Mekkhala: What the Storm Actually Did to Taiwan and Global Chip Supply Chains

When Tropical Storm Mekkhala slammed into southern Taiwan in late June 2026, the headlines were alarming: flooding, evacuations, railway closures, and office shutdowns affecting millions. For anyone watching global semiconductor supply chains, the immediate question was whether the world's most important chipmaker had been knocked offline.

The short answer: TSMC's factories never stopped running.

Here is a breakdown of what Mekkhala actually did to Taiwan and why the global chip supply chain escaped unscathed this time.

TSMC's Fabs Stayed Normal Throughout the Storm

Multiple news outlets from June 25–27, 2026 confirm that TSMC's chip fabrication plants remained operational. The company issued a statement saying its factories were operating normally and that precautionary measures, including keeping essential staff on site, had been taken across all Taiwan facilities . Marketscreener, citing company sources, reported on June 25 that "all its fabs are operating normally" during the heavy rain .

Even in Hsinchu—where TSMC's global headquarters and its most advanced fabs are located—offices and schools closed from noon on June 26 as a precaution, but this closure did not affect fab operations .

The Economic Times noted on June 27 that "Taiwan experienced significant disruptions, including flooding and evacuations, though its crucial chip manufacturing operations remained unaffected" .

Where the Storm Actually Hit Hardest

Mekkhala's outer rain bands lashed southern Taiwan without making direct landfall. The heaviest damage was concentrated in three regions:

• Kaohsiung, Pingtung, and Tainan experienced severe flooding that shut down a section of the island's main north-south railway line .
• Over 5 million residents in those three regions had offices and schools closed on June 26 .
• About 200 people were evacuated in coastal areas of Hualien County due to the risk of a barrier lake collapse .

No casualties were reported .

Why the Global Chip Supply Chain Wasn't Affected

The flooding severed a key domestic railway link, which can delay freight movement within Taiwan, but international supply chains for semiconductors were not materially impacted because TSMC's fabs kept running .

Semiconductor production is an enormously delicate and precise process—any interruption can mean scrapping wafers worth millions. TSMC's ability to maintain operations during severe weather is a testament to its disaster preparedness protocols, which include on-site essential staff, backup power systems, and pre-positioned supplies.

Indirect Disruptions: Japan Felt the Storm Too

After passing Taiwan, Mekkhala moved toward Japan, where the disruption was more tangible:

• Toyota briefly halted its Kyushu factory from the afternoon of June 25, resuming the second shift on June 26 .
• Over 200 flights were cancelled in Japan as airlines braced for the storm .
• Japan issued evacuation orders for about 1 million people in affected regions .

These disruptions, while significant locally, did not cascade into global semiconductor supply chain problems because they affected different industries and geographies.

The Bigger Picture: Taiwan's Chip Industry and Weather Risk

Mekkhala's limited impact on TSMC does not mean the industry is immune to weather events. In previous years, other typhoons and earthquakes have caused real production halts:

• Super Typhoon Ragasa (2025) was described as bringing the chip industry to a standstill after devastating winds hit Southeast Asia and Foxconn's operations .
• Typhoon Krathon (2024) made landfall on Taiwan's western coast—home to critical fabs—and experts warned of short-term supply chain ripple effects .
• A 2024 earthquake caused TSMC to evacuate some facilities and reportedly led to up to 30,000 wafers being scrapped .

Mekkhala did not become one of those events because its path spared TSMC's core production sites and the company's preparedness measures functioned as designed.

Key Takeaway

Tropical Storm Mekkhala caused serious local disruption in southern Taiwan and Japan, but TSMC's chip fabs were never shut down, and the global semiconductor supply chain was not significantly impacted. The event is a useful case study in how resilient the world's most critical chipmaker can be—and a reminder that the next storm may not miss the fabs.