TSMC posted September revenue of NT$511.86 billion ($16.03 billion), up 54.6% year over year, as demand for advanced processors used in AI data centers keeps filling the world's largest contract chipmaker's order books.

The figure, released Thursday, marks a slight sequential step back: consolidated revenue declined 0.6% from August. That follows an unusually strong August, when sales rose 10.1% from July to about $16.12 billion — a 53.3% increase from a year earlier, according to TSMC's official monthly revenue data.

The September numbers bring revenue for the July–September quarter to approximately $46.7 billion.

Who is driving the growth?

TSMC manufactures chips for Nvidia and Apple, among other customers. Both demand pools point in the same direction: growing investment in AI infrastructure has lifted orders for the advanced processors that power data centers, and TSMC sits as the sole major foundry supplier for much of that silicon.

The result is a foundry running near the limits of what its advanced-node capacity can supply, with monthly revenue growth holding above 50% year over year for consecutive months.

What comes next?

Investors showed caution ahead of the announcement. TSMC shares closed 1.35% lower in Taiwan before the monthly revenue release.

The company will publish its full third-quarter financial results on Oct. 15, offering detail that monthly revenue disclosures do not contain — profitability, margins, and management's business outlook. With AI infrastructure spending still climbing and quarterly revenue already near $46.7 billion, the Oct. 15 report will show whether TSMC can convert record top-line growth into matching bottom-line performance.