Chips are also called microcircuits and integrated circuits. It is the core component of smart appliances. The chip determines almost all the functions of the motherboard and can affect the performance of the entire system. It can be said that the chip is in the era of information technology, which is equivalent to the coal and oil in the industrial era. Without a chip, the device cannot be produced at all.
01
image
As early as the second half of 2020, the shortage of semiconductor chip production capacity has made the automotive industry "worried." Entering 2021, the tight chip production capacity has not eased, and the trend of price increases and shortages is intensifying.
On March 17, Volvo Cars even stated that due to the shortage of chip supply, it will suspend or adjust the production of factories in China and the United States this month.
This is not an isolated case. The "core shortage" crisis that has swept across the world continues to spread. Automobile chips are in desperate situation, mobile phone chips are scarce, graphics card prices are rising... Almost all industries that use chips have been impacted to varying degrees. Many well-known domestic and foreign manufacturers have been forced to suspend or reduce production due to insufficient chip supply.
02
image
The shortage of raw materials and rising prices are one of the main reasons.
Starting in 2019. The entire semiconductor industry is facing price increases in all aspects from "sand to chips".
According to a reporter from CCTV Finance Channel interviewed by customs officials, the amount of photoresist purchased by enterprises before was about 100 kilograms, but currently only 10-20 kilograms can be purchased.
In addition to raw materials, demand blows out, and the mismatch between chip production capacity and market demand is also one of the factors.
On the one hand, the market has entered the era of "personal semiconductors". In addition to mobile phones, modern people also need chips for various products such as computers, watches, bracelets, and earphones.
At the same time, the global epidemic has spawned a home office economy such as home office and learning, and the demand for 5G, tablets, notebooks, and mobile phones has skyrocketed, driving the demand for related chips to skyrocket at the same time.
In February, Qualcomm CEO An Meng said frankly: PC, automobile and other networking chips orders blowout, Qualcomm chips may not be able to meet the needs of the industry.
03
image
At the same time, some people think that one of the reasons for the shortage of chips is the US government.
"Nihon Keizai Shimbun" believes that the beginning of the global semiconductor shortage is the US government's sanctions on Chinese companies, especially the sanctions on SMIC.
SMIC has a mature 28nm chip production line, which could have greatly compensated for its production capacity. However, due to the impact of US sanctions, its 14nm production line currently has a production capacity of only 15,000 chips per month.
This exacerbates the problem of chip supply shortages.
The same point of view also appeared in a recent report by the French Broadcasting Corporation. They pointed out that Trump's "technological war" against China is an indirect driver of the current chip shortage.
And the super cold current encountered in Texas in February this year has caused the fabs of three semiconductor companies, including Samsung, NXP and Infineon, to shut down in Austin. The global chip shortage is even worse.
04
image
The security industry is one of the first industries to feel the chip shortage.
Affected by the shortage of chips, the price of security cameras is gradually rising. In September last year, the price of a commonly used 2-megapixel camera was 140 yuan, but it has now risen to 210 yuan. The average increase is 30%-40%.
Product delivery cycles are also lengthening. Many companies said that the current extended delivery period has become a common phenomenon. The time from the delivery of the design to the finished product of the chip has been stretched from three to four months to about nine months.
The supply of semiconductor OEMs has always given priority to large customers, and small and medium-sized enterprises lack stable supply chain support. During the shortage period, not only is it not easy to get the chips, but it is also disturbed by the rising prices of the trading market. For small and medium-sized enterprises, the shortage of chips will hit them harder and have greater pressure.
05
image
From a development perspective, the international situation is changing, the semiconductor supply chain is fragile, and any problems in any link will seriously affect the entire industrial chain. Whether it is car chips or mobile phone chips, there is a risk of interruption of supply at any time. The industry predicts that the shortage of chips will continue in the short term.
The good news is that most of the chips in this round of price increases use 8-inch production lines and do not require particularly advanced equipment. It just happens to be the size that the domestic chip can support. This is undoubtedly an excellent market opportunity.
It is foreseeable that the "lack of cores" will accelerate the speed of autonomous chip replacement. These key core technologies, which are either not available, not available, or not available, will be obtained by the Chinese through independent innovation, independent and controllable methods.
