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Dutch government confirms export controls on DUV equipment
Chinese semiconductor industry
- Thread starter Hendrik_2000
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Dutch government to restrict sales of processor chip tech
March 8, 2023...
Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Liesje Schreinemacher sent a letter to lawmakers outlining the proposed limitations, which come in addition to existing export controls on semiconductor technology.
“In view of technological developments and geopolitical context, the government has come to the conclusion that it is necessary for (inter)national security to extend the existing export control of specific semiconductor production equipment,” she wrote.
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The government said it would publish the new regulations “before the summer.”
In a statement published on its website, ASML said that the new restrictions will apply to its “most advanced deposition and immersion lithography tools.”
“Due to these upcoming regulations, ASML will need to apply for export licenses for shipment of the most advanced immersion DUV systems,” the company said, adding that it “will take time for these controls to be translated into legislation and take effect.”
Statement regarding additional export controls
... Veldhoven, The Netherlands, March 8, 2023...
In this regard, it is important to consider that the additional export controls do not pertain to all immersion lithography tools but only to what is called ‘most advanced’. Although ASML has not received any additional information about the exact definition of ‘most advanced’, ASML interprets this as ‘critical immersion’ which ASML defined in our Capital Markets Day as the TWINSCAN NXT:2000i and subsequent immersion systems. In addition, ASML notes that customers that are primarily focused on the mature nodes are well served with less advanced immersion lithography tools. And finally, ASML’s longer-term scenarios are primarily based on global secular demand and technology trends, rather than on detailed location assumptions.
This concerns "very specific technologies in the production cycle of semiconductors in which the Netherlands has a unique and leading position, such as the most advanced Deep Ultraviolet (DUV) immersion lithography and deposition," writes the minister.
Probably the latest ASML NXT2100i and/or the NXT2050i
In a statement published on its website, ASML said that the new restrictions will apply to its “most advanced deposition and immersion lithography tools.”
“Due to these upcoming regulations, ASML will need to apply for export licenses for shipment of the most advanced immersion DUV systems,” the company said, adding that it “will take time for these controls to be translated into legislation and take effect.
so latest DUVi variants will be restricted like 2050i and 2100i. but it will take time to implement as per the article
They may try tune down the situation but I think the NXT2100 and NXT2050 were made for costumers who aren't able to get EUV so if the Chinese are not the one getting those systems then who is going to buy it?
Does that mean they can sell them until enforcement of the regulations eventually begins? Or does that mean China will have to make do with older technology in DUV-terms as well? After already being blocked from EUV.
On top of that, many Chinese tech companies in strategic emerging industries do not require, or are prohibited from getting foreign or USD-denominated funding because of the sensitivity of the industry or they are getting a lot of SOE or government clients. RMB funds are becoming more popular by the day... Chinese tech companies rarely worry about a lack of funding.
That SMIC SSA800i can't come fast enough.
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