China CustomsThe data shows that Chinese mainland from the NetherlandsImportsThe value of lithography equipment reached a staggering $1.1 billion in December 2023, a full 1,000% year-over-year increase. This figure is much higher than in October and NovemberImportsamounts, respectively, 6$700 million and 8$200 million. And all year roundImportsSemiconductorsThe total amount of equipment is also close to 40 billion US dollars. Such data made many netizens begin to question, a lotImportsLithography machineDoes it mean domesticLithography machineThe outlook is bleak. In reality, however, domesticLithography machineNot without hope. Let's take a closer look at domestic productionLithography machinedevelopments.
chip asSemiconductorsThe core components of the industry, its processes and application scenarios are very complex. Because different chips are used in different fields, the requirements for the process are also quite different. For example, in missiles, satellites, etcMilitaryThe chips used in the field need to have higher reliability, safety and radiation resistance, but the performance requirements are relatively low, usually using 55nm or 60nm or more processes. Chips used in consumer electronics such as smartphones need to have high performance, low power consumption, and include a variety of functions such as logic, artificial intelligence, and communication. This type of chip usually integrates core components such as CPU, GPU, ISP, NPU, etc., so the process is generally below 7nm. At present, it can be mass-produced and commercialized in ChinaLithography machineOnlyShanghai Microelectronics 600DepartmentColumn lithography machine。theseLithography machineIt can meet the lithography needs of 90 nanometers, 110 nanometers, and 280 nanometers, and after multiple **, it can also manufacture 55 nanometer chips. However, use theseLithography machineThe yield rate of the manufactured chip will be reduced, and the leakage rate will also be increased, so it is more suitable for chip scenarios with low process requirements, such as aerospace and industrial control fields. For daily use of mobile phone chips, computer CPUs, artificial intelligence chips, etc., more sophisticated are neededLithography machineAt present, it is mainly Dutch that can meet these requirements on the marketasmlFirm.
asmlFounded in 1984, the company is globalLithography machineThe leading enterprise in the market, with a market share of up to 85%. The company has 6 types: G-line, I-line, KRF, ARF, ARFI and EUVLithography machine。Among them,ARFI lithography machine, which is often referred to as immersionDUV lithography machine, after multiple **, 7 nanometer chips can be manufactured. WhileEUV lithography machineIt is the most sophisticated commercial at presentLithography machine, capable of manufacturing chips below 7 nanometers. Huawei's KirLin 990, unicornS and other chips are adoptedasmllithography equipment. asmlThe company is not only immersiveDUV lithography machineoccupies more than 90% of the global market share, and inEUV lithography machineIt is an exclusive monopoly. Almost all chip manufacturers use itasmlofLithography machineWhether it is TSMC, Samsung, GF, UMC, SMIC and other foundries, or Intel, Samsung, SK hynix, Micron, YMTC and other IDM manufacturers. Therefore, when domesticLithography machinePurchased when it is unable to meet the requirements of the existing chip manufacturing processasmlofLithography machinebecome a strategy.
However, the Netherlands has recently introduced restrictions on advancedSemiconductorsThe new regulations for the export of equipment, which provide for the partialImmersion lithography machineexport restrictions. asmlofImmersion lithography machineIt is the most advanced lithography equipment on the market at present, and it is very critical to the domestic chip manufacturing industry. Therefore, this export restriction has had a certain impact on the domestic chip industry. Although there are some enterprises in the countryLithographyThere is a breakthrough in the aspect, but the distance can be withasmlThere is still a certain gap in the comparable level, so it is domesticLithography machineIt is difficult to replace in a short period of timeImportsEquipment.
Despite the domesticLithography machineThere are some challenges, but there are also some domestic enterprises that are increasingLithography machineR&D efforts, striving to shrink withasmlgaps. For example, the Institute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences cooperated with Chuangzhi Weiye CompanyE-900E lithography machine, claiming to be able to achieve 100% yield and 50% good capability at 28nm process. At the same time, domesticLithography machineProducersSalt LakeShares are also being launched such as a number of salt lightWord lithography machine, trying to improve domestic productionLithography machinePosition in the market competition.
In addition, the state will also:Lithography machineIt is listed as one of the key technologies for development, and a number of policies have been introduced to encourage and support domestic productionLithography machineThe development of the industry. For example, the national chipIndustrial Investment**Increase inLithography machineindustrialInvestments, used to promote domestic productionLithography machineR&D and production. At the same time, some large domestic chip manufacturing enterprises have also begun to be activeInvestmentsLithography machineindustry, enhance independent research and development capabilities.
To sum up, domesticLithography machineIt is difficult to replace in the short termImportsequipment, but under the impetus of national policy support and the coordinated development of the industrial chain, it is domesticLithography machineIt is expected to gradually improve its own technical level, shrink withImportsGaps in equipment. AlthoughImportsLithography machineAt present, it is more in line with market demand, but domesticLithography machineIt still has certain development prospects.