China is importing large volumes of semiconductor manufacturing machines from the U.S. (tariff code/harmonized system code: 848620), even after the various rounds of export controls
Chinese semiconductor thread II
- Thread starter vincent
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China is importing large volumes of semiconductor manufacturing machines from the U.S. (tariff code/harmonized system code: 848620), even after the various rounds of export controls
I dont think you are reading the graph well:
Of all imports 30-35% looks is coming from Japan.
Like 55-60% is coming from SK, Singapore, Malaysia and Netherlands
only 10-15% is coming from the US.
Predictable because US toolmakers would evade controls by setting manufacturing shops outside the US.
The second graph is US only, the first graph is global. Both are at historically high levels
Then Tools are down and ICs are up in 2024 but compared to 2020 both are down.
Tools are at the same level as 2020, lower in 2021 though, albeit US exports climbed after October 2022
Could be the that bump was a backlog of tools delivered after October 2022, but looks like is going down now due more stringent export controls from the commerce department and pressure from the China Hawks.
You can see the jump in Chinese chip tools purchases after they started sanctioning Huawei and ZTE circa 2018.
Purchases went from like $15 billion USD per month on average to $30 billion USD. And ever since they started to sanction the fabs themselves the purchases ramped up even more to the current like $55 billion USD average per month.
Compare that with the pathetic $12 billion USD per month chip tool purchases the US makes. And these are typically leading edge tools with much higher cost per unit and per wafer.
I once looked at the numbers, and SMIC is headed towards surpassing TSMC in 28nm fabrication capacity. You will see it happen over the next two years.
Nexchip already has similar capacity to its parent company Powerchip Semiconductor (PSMC) in Taiwan.
The only laggard is Hua Hong. They are mostly increasing capacity in legacy nodes 55nm and lower. Where you would expect them to be at least trying to compete with the likes of UMC in 28nm capacity. Maybe a sign of things to come after they finish 55nm expansion.
Purchases went from like $15 billion USD per month on average to $30 billion USD. And ever since they started to sanction the fabs themselves the purchases ramped up even more to the current like $55 billion USD average per month.
Compare that with the pathetic $12 billion USD per month chip tool purchases the US makes. And these are typically leading edge tools with much higher cost per unit and per wafer.
I once looked at the numbers, and SMIC is headed towards surpassing TSMC in 28nm fabrication capacity. You will see it happen over the next two years.
Nexchip already has similar capacity to its parent company Powerchip Semiconductor (PSMC) in Taiwan.
The only laggard is Hua Hong. They are mostly increasing capacity in legacy nodes 55nm and lower. Where you would expect them to be at least trying to compete with the likes of UMC in 28nm capacity. Maybe a sign of things to come after they finish 55nm expansion.
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If they are at the same level as 2020 and lower than 21... than it isn't a historic high?
Hua Hong fab at Wuxi Phase I (Fab 7) with approximately 95,000 wafers per month capacity. 300mm wafers at 55nm.
Notice the huge construction site northeast of the fab. That is probably Phase II (aka Fab 9) which was originally planned to be 40nm.
This satellite picture is from Google Maps. If you look at recent (blurry) Sentinel-2 pictures the construction of Phase II seems to finished. The buildings are roofed and everything.
This is the artist rendering of how the whole complex is supposed to look like when finished.
Notice the huge construction site northeast of the fab. That is probably Phase II (aka Fab 9) which was originally planned to be 40nm.
This satellite picture is from Google Maps. If you look at recent (blurry) Sentinel-2 pictures the construction of Phase II seems to finished. The buildings are roofed and everything.
This is the artist rendering of how the whole complex is supposed to look like when finished.
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