Global shortage of chips is gradually to the upstream transmission, first of all, natural is inundated with productivity fabs, resulting in upstream of the semiconductor equipment also presents demand growth, at the same time, demand for semiconductor material also more and more urgent, "material shortage" began to spread in the industry.

Semiconductor materials are used for the direct and indirect auxiliary material in the manufacture of the chip, sort is various, including silicon, photoresist and auxiliary reagents, high purity reagents, electronic gases, polishing materials, target material, mask templates, etc. In all kinds of semiconductor materials, according to the market size and proportion, the top three, respectively is silicon (33%), electronic gases (14) and the photoresist and accessory reagent (13%), now, on a global scale, it is the shortage of these three materials received more attention.

The wafer

Wafer fabs is one of the most important raw materials, at present, including TSMC, Intel, samsung, micron semiconductor companies, most of the global chip manufacturers are expanding production capacity, and start the multinational building plan, in order to boost demand silicon wafers.

According to statistics, in 2021 the global 19 prolific can enter into the construction fabs, another 10 fabs will be started in 2022, due to a fab capacity at 3, 50000 slice of silicon, the dosage of silicon wafer is soaring, but the market supply is limited, the new capacity could not open the case, contribute to a wave of silicon prices. It for the world's largest silicon factory, especially the head of a few companies, provides a perfect opportunity.

At present, the world's top four silicon vendors are: Japan the letter (Shin Etsu, market share of 33%), high (earn), ring spherulite, China Taiwan and Germany the gen (Siltronic).

In the face of the current market, President of the world's second largest silicon factory earn hashimoto really luckily, said the shortage of silicon such a long time not seen. On February 9th, earn, said the 12-inch wafer capacity (including new factory new capacity) long-term contract has been signed a contract to 2026 fiscal year. In addition, 8 inch wafer demand will also is expected to continue to strengthen.