Chinese semiconductor industry

Status
Not open for further replies.

caudaceus

Senior Member
Registered Member
Nikon is not competitive with ASML for leading edge logic due to their lack of dual stage. The second stage is used for simultaneously measuring the 3D topography of the wafer so that the source has optimal depth of focus with regard to the specific wafer under exposure. Nikon requires an external module for that.

From what I remember it's mostly Intel buying new Nikon tools. It is also why SMEE is being held to such a high bar, as the dual wafer stage is very difficult to master.
Since conversations shifting to dual stage wafer positioning for a while, does EUV use similar positioning system or does it introduce newer thing?
 

tokenanalyst

Brigadier
Registered Member
I don't think that's safe to say at all.

We don't have any details on what the sanctions entail, which is what makes a lot of these discussions really hard. We can see that China is stocking up a lot of ASML scanners. We can see China buys a lot from TEL, Nikon and Canon. We also know that these type of sanctions really only affects a couple of fabs in China. SMIC's SN1 and SN2 fab, YMTC and CXMT + HLMC fab 6. In YMTC/CXMT case, they are already slowed down due to US sanctions, so additional sanctions really don't make things that much worse. HLMC still hasn't really started 14nm production.

Which brings us back to SMIC. All the sanctions really just affect their SMSC JV. How much this really affects them depend on how much tools they have stocked up.

I tend to think if this gets dragged on and SMIC stocks up enough tools, there really wouldn't be much additional effect. Of course, if the Dutch & Japanese drops after service support, that's a whole different ball game. Because then, Chinese fabs will have to replace all those tools also and that would be annoying. but in that case, I don't see how China could purchase another tool from these countries.

I do think the Chinese gov't is still too timid here. At minimum, they should put tariffs on semi tools from any country that sanctions them. That would be a reasonable retaliation and they can use that money to support domestic industry.
As Chinese tools gain more share and issues are being resolved. The options for export controlled companies should be clear: either sell the best tools or sell nothing.
 

tinrobert

Junior Member
Registered Member

ASML CEO: U.S. export restrictions to China will promote China's own technology in the field of high-end chip manufacturing equipment​


Jiweiwang News On January 26, according to the Financial Associated Press, Peter Wennink, CEO of the Dutch lithography giant ASML, said in an interview at the company headquarters in Wildhofen, the Netherlands, that the US-led semiconductor industry targeting China The export control measures will eventually lead China to successfully develop its own technology in the field of high-end chip manufacturing equipment.

"The 'laws of physics' are the same in China as they are here, and the more pressure you put on them, the more likely they will work harder" to build lithography equipment that can rival ASML, he said.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

View attachment 105924

More than ASML, the problem for established companies is that China is huge market with huge potential, once a company get big in China, it will get big globally. With some companies needing a monopolistic position in the market just to exist, will be difficult to them to accept seeing some companies in the Chinese market growing without competition in the same product categories.​
I've been saying this for more than a year. Here's my article I published last week on ASML and China and you can read it here:
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
 

latenlazy

Brigadier
I do think the Chinese gov't is still too timid here. At minimum, they should put tariffs on semi tools from any country that sanctions them. That would be a reasonable retaliation and they can use that money to support domestic industry.
Your own companies have to pay the tariffs you put up against foreign competitors. If you want to hoard supplies and equipment before a ban comes attacking with tariffs is self defeating.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top