The relevant person in charge of SK Hynix responded that they are preparing for the introduction of lithography equipment in China in the second half of next year or 2023. Some analysts believe that Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which have production bases in China, may face the risk of not being able to upgrade their processes and upgrade key equipment.
According to reports, SK Hynix's chip factory transformation plan in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province may have failed due to opposition from the United States. SK Hynix plans to introduce an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machine from ASML in the Wuxi semiconductor factory to improve the stability of the process technology. However, this plan may be opposed by the United States on the grounds that it is "worried that China may use this technology to improve its military capabilities, thereby posing a security threat to the United States."
When asked if SK Hynix is allowed to introduce EUV equipment to Chinese factories, a senior White House official declined to comment, but he reiterated that the US government's insistence on preventing China from using the technology of the United States and its allies to develop cutting-edge semiconductors will not change.
The EUV lithography machine produced by ASML is indispensable cutting-edge equipment for semiconductor microprocessing. In February this year, SK Hynix signed a contract with ASML to import about 20 EUV equipment by 2025. SK Hynix has DRAM semiconductor factories in South Korea and China.
If the lithography machine cannot be shipped to China, the process upgrade of the Chinese factory may be delayed. In this regard, the relevant person in charge of SK Hynix said that he is preparing for the introduction of lithography equipment in China in the second half of next year or 2023.
Some analysts believe that if the United States tightens overall sanctions on semiconductor equipment in China, then Samsung Electronics' factories in China will also encounter difficulties in upgrading processes.
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