Huawei chips made considerable progress but still behind Intel/TSMC: ASML

ASML CEO – Christophe Fouquet recently said Huawei chips made progress over time but still lags behind Intel and TSMC. The Chinese chip industry is doing well at present yet is running behind by 10 to 15 years from its foreign competitors.

In an interview with NRC media, the ASML CEO talked about Huawei chips, TSMC, and Chinese chipmaking capabilities. The executive believes that the country may continue to suffer to draw level with other semiconductor producers in the market.

Christophe recalled the time when the US authorities had sanctioned many Chinese firms over “national security” concerns. The ban eventually led to a pause on advanced technology exports in China including advanced chip manufacturing tools.

The CEO noted the lack of advanced chipmaking tools severely impacted the Chinese chip industry. Even if the country uses top-of-the-range DUV machines, it will not be able to reach the chipmaking process level of TSMC and Intel.

“By banning the export of EUV, China will lag 10 to 15 years behind the West. That really has an effect.” – says ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet.

He adds, China will lag in the chip field without accessing EUV lithography equipment. The CEO described his company’s experience saying that ASML took over 20 years to jump from the basic chipmaking level to the EUV chip ecosystem.

Huawei chips made considerable progress but still behind Intel/TSMC: ASML (Image Credits: ASML)

The executive further says that despite an order by SMIC for one EUV tech, ASML never shipped it. Following the U.S. trade export controls, the chip producer never delivered any high-end machines to China but sent DUV tools instead.

One such tool is the Twinscan NCT: 2000i which can make chips on 5nm and 7nm process technologies. Huawei and SMIC are currently using the same tech.

Huawei and Chinese companies are seeking new ways that make them progress more in the chip field. The company is considering making its own EUV equipment, but again implementing this plan will take a long time.

As Christophe said, the company has made considerable progress in the semiconductor race, but the gap of 10-15 years between the Chinese and foreign chip technologies won’t be reduced easily.

(source)