Following TSMC's announcement that it will suspend advanced process foundry services for AI chip companies in mainland China at 7nm and below, Samsung's foundry department has also issued a similar notice to mainland customers!
Regarding the relevant news, Samsung Semiconductor replied: “We cannot comment on customer-related matters.“
According to a shareholder of an AI chip company, Samsung and TSMC recently sent emails to the companies he invested in, asking customers to cooperate in verifying the qualification of the film.As TSMC, under pressure from the U.S. government, issued a letter to AI chip companies in mainland China to suspend advanced process foundry services of 7nm and below, some manufacturers have indeed begun to contact Samsung, hoping that Samsung can provide related services to replace TSMC, which has suspended its supply.
However, judging from the latest news, although the United States has not officially introduced relevant restrictions, Samsung seems to have received the same notice from the U.S. Department of Commerce as TSMC.
Recently, TSMC will suspend the supply of technologies below 7nm to all AI customers in the mainland from the 11th. For related issues, TSMC will not comment on market rumors on the 8th.However, TSMC also once again emphasized that "as a law-abiding company, TSMC has always been committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations, including applicable export control regulations."
According to the revenue data released by TSMC, the contribution ratio of mainland Chinese customers in the full year of 2023 and the first three quarters of 2024 is about 11-13%.As the supply of 7nm and below processes is cut off, TSMC is expected to lose at least 5-8% of its revenue.
Insiders in the industry said that judging from the current situation, the 7nm process yield of mainland chip manufacturing companies is still low. If DUV production is not included in the cost, it can still be produced, but in fact, there are few commercial customers in the field of AI/GPU applications.
In addition, the supply chain landscape is expected to change.Chip design companies in mainland China may have to find alternative chip foundry partners, but this may trigger major supply chain adjustments.At present, mainland China's ability to independently produce advanced process chips has yet to be strengthened, and it is difficult to fully meet market demand in the short term.
This series of changes not only tests the coping ability and innovation ability of Chinese companies, but also reflects the complexity and uncertainty of the global semiconductor industry chain in the international political and economic environment.