Don’t underestimate chips that are only the size of a fingernail. They are indispensable components in the 5G era. Whether it is a smartphone, PC, aircraft, or rocket, they are inseparable from the support of chips, otherwise they will become a pile of scrap iron, and their importance is self-evident.
In the field of chip manufacturing, TSMC is the manufacturer with the most advanced technology, richest experience, and the largest production capacity of . None of them are the main reason for this situation. TSMC has more than 80 EUV lithography machines, and the yield rate is high. It is also because of this that major manufacturers including Apple , Huawei , Qualcomm and other products have handed over chip orders to TSMC.
Unexpectedly, since the chip rules were modified, TSMC began to go down from its peak and became "down" and there were even reports that TSMC is encouraging employees to take more holidays and will shut down some EUV lithography machines to save power consumption costs. Just imagine, if TSMC is at its peak and orders should be in short supply, then will the EUV lithography machine be turned off?
In this regard, foreign media have also speculated that TSMC is losing three major advantages, and the era of TSMC may come to an end. The reason why foreign media said this also gives the following reasons.
First, Intel obtained the priority use rights of High NA EUV lithography machine.
As we all know, since the ASML production line uses a lot of American technologies and components, it is restricted by the United States, and Intel is the key target of the support of the United States. Therefore, in the allocation of advanced lithography machines, ASML will definitely give priority to Intel. The most important thing about
is that ASML has also stated that Intel has grabbed the first 0.55NA EUV lithography machine, and the first batch of 6 Taichung Intel also accounts for the majority. In other words, both TSMC and and Samsung have lost the priority purchasing rights of ASML's latest high-end lithography machines.
You should know that the reason why TSMC can become the world's largest chip foundry is mainly because it has priority to obtain EUV lithography machines, and now it has lost the priority right to obtain EUV lithography machines, which means that TSMC will have no advantage in process technology below 3nm and below.
Secondly, Samsung is ahead of TSMC in 3nm process technology.
According to data, 50% of TSMC's total revenue in 2021 comes from advanced processes such as 7NM and 5nm, which is also due to the guarantee of advanced process technology production capacity with TSMC.
However, Samsung's 3nm chip has officially started production, and it is expected to officially mass-produce GAA process 3nm chips in 2023. In contrast, TSMC abandoned the first 3nm N3 process and switched to the lower-cost N3E process. In contrast, Samsung's GAA process 3nm chip is more advanced and mass-produced earlier.
Finally, TSMC's order volume will decrease.
Due to the overcapacity of chip production in advanced processes, many TSMC's old customers, including Qualcomm and Nvidia, have chosen to cut orders. According to supply chain information, TSMC's monthly production capacity was originally scheduled to be reduced from 44,000 to 10,000 at the end of the year. This means that TSMC's order volume is decreasing.
In addition, SMIC has increased its layout for mature chips such as 28nm, and TSMC will also lose more mature chip orders.
The most important thing is that domestic chip imports decreased by 61 billion in the first nine months of this year. This also means that the domestic market can obtain mature process chips without TSMC.
It is precisely because of this that foreign media said that TSMC is losing three major advantages, with reduced production capacity and backward technology, and no priority to obtain high-end lithography machines. What do you think about this? Everyone is welcome to leave a message, like and share.
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