ASML defected first, and then TSMC, and the US media revealed that the trend of defection has started.
As the two giants in the semiconductor field, ASML and TSMC have been banned from shipments in the United States. The U.S. also wants state-of-the-art technology from the two companies and expects them to invest more production capacity in the U.S.
In order to limit ASML's **, the United States entered into a tripartite agreement;In order to obtain TSMC's production capacity and technology, the United States has established a wafer subsidy program.
But the crash still came, ASML not only insisted on shipping, but also accelerated domestic shipments, and TSMC also had a smart attitude towards the United States.
After signing the tripartite agreement, ASML made it clear that the Chinese market is crucial and will provide more lithography machines to Chinese manufacturers.
Data shows that in the second quarter of this year, ASML shipped 27 lithography machines to China, which was 25 times, while the entire second quarter shipments were only 113 lithography machines.
ASML's CFO also made it clear that revenue from China will increase significantly in the second and third quarters, with DUV lithography machine revenue reaching record levels in the second quarter.
This means that ASML will offer more lithography machines to Chinese manufacturers in the third quarter. After September 1, ASML continued to insist on sending DUV lithography machine model 1980i.
TSMC's approach is even more surprising.
As we all know, TSMC has announced an investment of $40 billion in the United States to mass produce 4nm and 3nm chips in 2024 and 2026 respectively, but Liu Deyin suddenly announced that it would postpone the mass production of 4nm chips in the United States by one year.
The reason is that the United States lacks relevant wafer talents, and even if TSMC sends a large number of technicians to the United States, it is still unable to meet production requirements.
In addition, the United States hopes to gain more chip manufacturing capacity from TSMC, and also wants to obtain TSMC's advanced chip manufacturing technology.
However, Liu Deyin made it clear that the U.S. is asking for too much data, which will have a negative impact on operators in Taiwan Province of China, and cannot accept the subsidy plan of Crystal and suspend its subsidy application.
This means that there is an accident in TSMC's construction of a factory in the United States, and it is not impossible to shrink and reduce production, not to mention that mass production has been postponed.
Crucially, Wei Zhejia officially announced the establishment of a new global R&D center in Taiwan Province for the development of 2nm 14nm and other more advanced technology chips, the purpose is to prove TSMC's determination to take root in Taiwan.
TSMC has invested $60 billion to build 2nm chip factories in Zhuke and ST in Taiwan Province, and has also identified the Kaohsiung plant as a production base using advanced 2nm process technology to meet market demand.
In other words, TSMC will have more advanced process capabilities in Taiwan, and only one 2nm chip factory will build three, and it is basically impossible for the United States to want TSMC's more advanced chip manufacturing technology.
After this news came out, the United States** said that the downturn has begun, because the Chinese market is too important, especially in the case of the decline in orders from US chips, Chinese manufacturers continue to reduce the number of imported chips.
In the first half of this year, for example, Chinese manufacturers reduced the number of chips imported by more than 51.6 billion, which means that a large number of lithography machines are naturally needed to produce more chips in China.
ASML said that among the undelivered lithography machine orders, Chinese manufacturers accounted for 20% of the orders, and other manufacturers' lithography machine orders have been cut by varying degrees, but the demand from Chinese manufacturers is very strong and well prepared.
The same is true for TSMC, which has seen overcapacity due to reduced orders from Apple, Qualcomm, AMD and other companies, with fewer orders from U.S. companies and revenue falling year-on-year for several months.
Liu Deyin alluded to the domestic market as an important consumer group, and sent Wei Zhejia and other three giants to Shanghai to visit important customers.
The key is that TSMC insists on expanding the scale of the Nanjing factory, the Nanjing plant will be put into operation at the end of this year, TSMC has officially announced that the Kaohsiung factory has been upgraded from the 28nm production line to the introduction of 2nm chips, and the future Nanjing plant is not impossible.
That's why the United States will say that the counterattack has begun.