So why is the semiconductor manufacturing industry chain so dependent on Ukraine's neon gas?
Although neon gas is one of the indispensable electronic special gases from beginning to end in semiconductor production, the overall use is not high, so the total market demand is not large. In addition, the purification of these rare gases has high requirements, requires a certain technical threshold, and as a by-product of the steel industry, it is deeply bound to the scale of the steel industry, and the heavy industries such as steel in the former Soviet Union are huge, so the separation of related rare gases as a subsidiary industry has always been relatively strong. After the collapse of the former Soviet Union, it evolved into a situation in which Russia mainly carried out crude gas separation, and enterprises in Ukraine were responsible for refining and exporting to the world. There are also relatively low labor costs. Large and stable production, combined with lower costs, makes him more competitive in the market. Over the years, the global market has gradually formed a supply chain of krypton, krypton and xenon that depends on Russia and Ukraine. Although companies have begun to look for more suppliers due to the impact of the epidemic and want to diversify the industrial supply chain to cope with unexpected situations, suppliers' products need about half a year to verify, and it is difficult to find supplier channels that can completely replace Ukraine in a short period of time.
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Which countries are most affected?
First of all, the mainland is a global steel power, and the purification technology of these rare gases has achieved a breakthrough, and the production process is relatively mature, and it is no longer a technology that can 'card China's neck'. Even if it is not imported, it can basically achieve independent supply.
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However, it has a greater impact on the United States, Japan, South Korea and other countries. For rare gases such as neon gas, the vast majority depend on imports. Most of the imports are also used in the semiconductor industry. The first to bear the brunt is the United States, which has previously launched a tip for domestic companies in response to this situation, because more than 90% of the U.S. supply of semiconductor-grade neon gas comes from Ukraine. In addition, 35% of palladium comes from Russia.
In this regard, the CEO of Micron Technology, the largest computer memory chip manufacturer in the United States, said in an interview recently: "Don't worry, we do have a small part of the inert gas supply from Ukraine, but at present we have a large inventory in reserve, and there are multiple supply sources." Lithography giant ASML also said that less than 20% of the neon gas it uses comes from Ukraine, but it is also looking for other suppliers to prevent supply cuts.
Micron Technology
Asmail (ASML)
Although in the short term, there will be no industrial disruption. But the impact of rising prices for specialty gases brought about by the chip famine since the epidemic has not yet passed. With the escalation of the situation in Russia and Ukraine, it may cause a tight supply of related rare gases, the price of special gases continues to grow, and the chip shortage cannot be alleviated.