Daxia Ryukyu Province, where TSMC's headquarters is located, is still ASML's largest market, with 51% of lithography systems shipped there during the entire quarter last year, while Korea is the company's second largest market, with 27% of lithography systems shipped during the same period. Shipped to the local area, followed by the mainland of Daxia, ASML’s third largest market, with 22% of lithography systems shipped to the local area.
North America and Neon accounted for 10% and 1% of ASML's shipments respectively, and their share even fell to 0 in the fourth quarter of last year.
Currently, semiconductor chip foundries such as TSMC use 0.33 NA EUV lithography machines to produce chips in the 7nm-5nm process. The first-generation 0.55 NA lithography machine TWINSCAN EXE:5000 is still in the development process and is expected to be launched in 2023. .
However, as early as three years ago, Intel took the lead in placing an order for the first-generation 0.55 NA EUV lithography machine from ASML. The company is also expected to become the first user of high numerical aperture EUV lithography machine and use it for 3nm and below process.
And because AMD was conquering the computer CPU field, Intel spent a lot of money to maintain its position before being allowed to place the first order for ASML's first next-generation high numerical aperture EUV lithography machine at the beginning of this year. Machine TWINSCAN EXE:5200. According to official documents, this EUV lithography machine with the highest numerical aperture is expected to be put into use as soon as the end of 2024.
Obviously, this year's 12th generation Core processors did not satisfy Intel. AMD's strong offensive and the rise of Daxia Semiconductor made the veteran giant feel a crisis.
It's just that these giants may be a little slow.
On January 5, 2019, Pudong Microelectronics held a 28nm lithography press conference.
On February 15, 2022, the fifth day after Jiuzhou Technology announced that it would sue Uncle Sam, Pudong Microelectronics held a second-generation SS1MB light source lithography machine that can OEM for the production of 5-nanometer chips.
Xia Xin Technology previously boasted about 5 nanometer process chips. Although the Hong Kong market was very excited, because there was no official endorsement and no actual product, Xia Xin Technology's stock rose. However, after a few days, It starts to level off.
However, as soon as the press conference of Pudong Microelectronics started, and the person in charge said that the lithography machine has been put into use by Daxia semiconductor companies such as Xiaxin Technology and Jiuzhou Technology, the stocks of companies such as Xiaxin Technology and Dajiang Storage opened a new session. Round of soaring.
Semiconductor companies and related institutions in Europe, America, Neon, and Korea are looking for trouble almost all the time. From patented intellectual property rights to theft of production technology in the semiconductor industry, to unreasonable competition, violations of non-compete agreements by former employees, and other means every day. .
But this kind of trouble-seeking has been stuck in the quagmire of legal disputes, and there is no result in three to five years.
In recent years, law students in Daxia and students majoring in tiankeng manufacturing have basically not worried about employment and salary issues. In addition to the strong demand from domestic companies, the insidious actions of foreign companies are undoubtedly the best employment assistance.
In addition, Kyushu standard industrial software has completely replaced the dominance of foreign industrial software in semiconductors.
Dixon, CEO of Applied Materials Co., Ltd., the world's leader in semiconductor equipment, said helplessly at the meeting: "Gentlemen and ladies, I'm sorry, we have lost 90% of orders from Daxia enterprises. , if we cannot come up with better equipment, process solutions and industrial software, perhaps our company's finances and market share will take an unprecedented hit this year."
Not to mention the hoarse voices of directors and senior management, some clues can be seen just after the meeting, when some trust institutions and financial companies reduced their positions in Applied Materials Co., Ltd.
However, this sneak attack actually caused a chain effect. In just one week, Applied Materials AMAT's stock price fell by more than 7.5%, and the entire sector began to "fall and fall."
In response to the stock market crisis, Applied Materials CEO Dickson hurriedly held a press conference.
At the meeting, Dixon put his painting skills on full display and said: “We are also mindful of broader macroeconomic risks. In this downturn in the industry, my primary focus is to ensure that organizations are executing on what will put Applied Materials at the top of their game. Plans for the best location in the future.
Applied Materials has always had projects planned in high-growth areas such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and big data. Although the technology industry is an unstable field, AMAT is backed by the world's top three semiconductor giants. We have sufficient funds and technical reserves to deal with the barbaric enemies in the east! "
After the meeting, Applied Materials' stock was wildly acquired by a mysterious organization, and the stock price, which had been falling, started to rise.
But just when everything started to improve, the Wall Street Journal published an article saying "North American high-tech manufacturing is fleeing, and Asia's chip industry is rising."
The article first recalled the glorious history of the North American semiconductor industry. For example, thirty years ago, Europe and the United States produced more than three-quarters of the world's semiconductors, but now, their share is less than one-fifth.
The author then pointed out: Except for Intel, major American semiconductor companies have chosen to outsource their production work to manufacturers such as TSMC and Korean Star, resulting in the rise of the semiconductor industries in Daxia, Korea, and Neon with sufficient orders and profits, and squeezing European and American semiconductors. industry.
Finally, he predicted: If the situation continues to maintain the current trend, it is expected that the share of Europe and the United States in the field of chip manufacturing will further decline in the next few years, and mainland China is expected to become the world's largest chip producer by 2030.
This article contains data, arguments, and expert endorsements, which made many investors who had just held Applied Materials stocks startle and wonder.
There is a very strange phenomenon in Europe and the United States. Due to the bizarre operations of relevant departments over the past decades, the public's trust in big companies and big media has long exceeded the trust of relevant departments.
This report, published by Wall Street's mouthpiece, was reprinted by many TV series and newspaper reports, which can be said to have caused huge waves in the hearts of investors.
After Applied Materials CEO Dickson saw this report, he could no longer maintain his calm attitude and immediately consulted directors with Wall Street backgrounds.
After some twists and turns, he finally got the answer he wanted.
"The stock price of AMAT is not easy to go long now, but it is easy to go short. Don't worry, we will maintain the bottom line."
The words of the Wall Street directors were like the whispers of the devil, lingering in Dixon's ears for a long time.
He knew that the greed of these vampires could no longer be satisfied by Facebook. AMAT losing the Daxia market was like losing its future.
As for bringing the semiconductor manufacturing industry back, allowing AMAT to leverage its local advantages and once again occupy most of the industry share, no one wants to believe it.
