In recent years, the United States has been imposing restrictions on China's advanced technology, especially to:SemiconductorsThe restrictions on the field are stricter. In addition to directly cutting off the shipment of advanced chips, the United States is also interested in advancedSemiconductorsmanufacturing equipment, etc. For example, when Huawei achieved a global leadership in 5G technology, the United States imposed a chip ban and continued to expand the scope of restrictionsSMIC, Shanghai Microelectronics and other enterprises are included in the entity list. Recently, it is rumored that the United States is eyeing mature processes again. For a long time, the U.S. restrictions have focused on advanced technologies, and chips are no exception. For example,SMICIn the early days of its establishment, the founder Zhang Rujing faced difficulties in purchasing equipment, and only through guarantee could he buy the first batch of equipment. SMICAs the most technologically advanced wafer fab in Continent, in:SemiconductorsThere have been restrictions on the purchase of manufacturing equipment. Take EUVLithography machineFor example, in 2018SMICEver to the NetherlandsLithography machineThe giant ASML ordered one, but due to four US obstructions and pressure on the Netherlands, EUVLithography machinePurchases remain restricted. In recent years, the United States has continuously revised chip rules and tightened chip restriction standards. Initially limited to 7nm and below, it was later ramped up to 10nm and below, and again to 14nm and below last October. Therefore, only high-end EUVs are restrictedLithography machineIt is no longer enough, and the United States is targeting mid-to-high-end immersion DUVsLithography machine。In addition to ASML in the Netherlands, Nikon in Japan is also capable of producing submerged DUVsLithography machine。To this end, the United States has roped in Japan and the Netherlands to reach a tripartite agreement to jointly implement itSemiconductorsExport control. Lithography machineAs the core equipment in the chip manufacturing process, it directly determines the advanced degree of the chip manufacturing process. However, oursLithography machineMainly dependent on foreign imports, domesticLithography machineThe process is not advanced enough. Therefore, the United States will focus on restrictionsLithography machine。Although we also have Shanghai Microelectronics like thisLithography machinemanufacturers, but due to foreign restrictions, Shanghai Microelectronics can only produce packages with a process of up to 90 nanometersLithography machine。However, Shanghai Microelectronics has been working hard, and according to relevant news, they are tackling more advanced DUVsLithography machineFabricate.
SMICOriginally, they planned to launch an attack on advanced processes, but in the face of the current situation, they had to quickly adjust their development thinking and focus on mature processes. After all, at present and for some time to come, mature process chips are still the mainstream market demand. According to relevant institutions**, from now to 2027, the production capacity of mature process chips will remain at about 70%, and may continue to grow. As the world's largestSemiconductorsmarket, China needs a large amount of mature process capacity. According to expert estimates, China will need about eight chips in the next few yearsSMICcapacity. Therefore, even in the face of the overall downward trend of the chip industry situation,SMICStill accelerating the expansion, and has been in Beijing,Shenzhen, Shanghai and Tianjin have established four mature process plants, with a total investment of more than 170 billion yuan. ExceptSMIC, Hua HongSemiconductors, Shanghai Jita, Hefei Jinghe and other Chinese enterprises are also constantly investing in expansion. This has led to a rapid increase in China's chip production capacity, and the import volume of chips has been decreasing since last year. According to market research institutes, China's mature process capacity already accounts for about 29% of the global market share and will expand to 39% by 2027.
According toU.S. Department of CommerceAccording to the official website, the United States plans to launch a new investigation in January 2024 to determine how American companies purchase chips of the current generation and mature nodes, the so-called traditional chips. The results of the survey will be evaluated for the United StatesSemiconductors** chain and take corresponding control measures to provide an important basis. It is clear that what the United States will do next is likely to further restrain the United StatesCorporate procurementMature process chips produced in China, and through export controls to maintain the security of the traditional chip chain in the United States. However, this move may not even beSMICI didn't expect it. Foreign media said that the United States acted a little late. Because the Chinese market has taken the lead in the layout of mature processes, and key equipment has been domestically produced. Therefore, the actions of the United States are actually idling, perhaps because even advanced processes cannot be stopped, and they are forced to take some random measures.
In the face of continued restrictions from the United States, China'sSemiconductorsThe industry continues to adjust its development ideas and increase investment and expansion of mature process chips. With the increasing demand for mature process chips in the Chinese market, the chip production capacity made in China has increased rapidly, and has occupied a significant share of the global scale. Despite new investigations and possible restrictions in the U.S. for mature process chips, China has already achieved certain advantages in the field of mature processes and achieved self-sufficiency through domestic equipment. As a result, U.S. restrictions may ultimately not be able to stop China's growth in the field of mature process chips. However, we should not take it lightly, and we need to continue to work hard to improve our independent innovation capabilities, and strengthen the research and development and research and development of key technologies to ensure that China is in the fieldSemiconductorsRemain competitive and leading in the industry.