ASML Has Maintained a Monopoly Until Now
No One Expected China Could Produce It
Industry Voices Doubt Due to Lack of Details
Some Say It's Just for Show
Authenticity of Technology to Be Determined
After Third Quarter Trial Production Results
Chinese telecommunications equipment and smartphone manufacturer Huawei has announced that it has independently developed extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment, which is essential for semiconductor production, but skepticism is spreading as detailed information has not been disclosed.
Photo of EUV lithography equipment announced as self-developed by China's Huawei. Photo by Huawei Official Website
According to the electronics industry on the 2nd, Huawei recently stated that it developed EUV lithography equipment on its own without anyone's help and plans to use it for mass semiconductor production next year, with trial production starting in the third quarter of this year. EUV is a process in semiconductor chip manufacturing where a laser light source with an extreme ultraviolet wavelength is projected onto a wafer to etch circuit patterns. Specialized equipment designed specifically for EUV is required, and Huawei announced that it has developed such equipment independently.
However, despite Huawei's announcement, distrust is growing within the industry. It is unclear whether Huawei actually made EUV equipment or developed technology and related equipment that can substitute for EUV. Huawei's website lacks detailed information about the equipment, only featuring photos that appear to be of the equipment and technical explanations about what EUV is. Foreign media and industry experts are divided between analyses that this was merely a show for appearances and that it was a strategic choice to avoid revealing information to the U.S. and others. The U.S. information technology (IT) specialized media outlet Tom's Hardware stated, "It is very uncertain (due to lack of information disclosure) whether Huawei has caught up to the level of its competitors," but also said, "If true, it can be seen that China's technological capabilities continue to advance at least for now."
Kim Jeonghoe, Vice Chairman of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy, "After hearing the development news, I tried to find information related to the equipment on various sites but could not verify anything," adding, "At present, it is unclear what performance Huawei's EUV has and how much it is operating."
The interest in China’s independent development of EUV equipment stems from the fact that it could mean China has created conditions to directly produce semiconductors through ultra-fine processes. EUV equipment has been virtually monopolized in development and supply by the Dutch semiconductor equipment manufacturer ASML. Few expected China to be able to produce EUV equipment. Even if China reached a level where it could produce all semiconductor equipment independently, many analyses suggested that EUV equipment would remain difficult, making it a kind of "last stronghold." The U.S., considering this, pressured the Dutch government to prevent ASML’s EUV equipment from being exported to China.
However, if China has truly mastered the technology to produce EUV equipment, U.S. semiconductor sanctions against China are likely to enter a new phase. China is also reportedly challenging 5nm (nanometer, one billionth of a meter) process production using deep ultraviolet (DUV) equipment. According to the South China Morning Post, ‘Siccarrier,’ which collaborates with Huawei, already obtained a patent in 2023 for technology to manufacture 5nm chips using DUV equipment and plans to release a new product using this technology within this week. The authenticity of China’s technological development news is expected to be determined once Siccarrier’s new product launch and the results of Huawei’s EUV equipment trial production in the upcoming third quarter are revealed.
In response to China’s semiconductor rise, ASML, the global semiconductor industry’s ‘super supplier,’ is strengthening its presence in the Chinese market. According to European foreign media and Taiwanese market research firm TrendForce, ASML is reportedly considering expanding the size of its Beijing branch and increasing its service centers. Even if EUV equipment can no longer be sold in China, ASML plans to continuously expand services such as repair and maintenance for equipment already in China. Industry insiders also report that ASML is quietly accelerating exports of DUV equipment to China.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
