As per the report, the four ministries and commissions of the US Department of Commerce, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and the State Council have approved the supplied license for SMIC to supply 14nm and above process production equipment from leading US equipment manufacturers.
SMIC has previously applied for but failed key equipment for 14nm wafer epitaxial growth and has also been approved and signed a US$1.2 billion purchase order with ASML last month.
Zhao Haijun, the co-CEO of SMIC, disclosed at the fourth quarter 2020 financial report that SMIC will extend the monthly production capacity of 8-inch wafers by 45,000 pieces in 2021. The original plan was 70,000 pieces per month. Will be expanded by 10,000 pieces/month.
Most of the purchases of SMIC’s 8-inch expansion are new equipment, and related orders have already been finalized, and the remaining work is only delivery and loading.
Zhao Haijun and Liang Mengsong, the co-CEOs of SMIC, said last month that the current foundry industry capacity is tight, especially the demand for mature processes is still strong, and it is expected that their mature production capacity will continue to be fully loaded.
In order to meet customer requirements, SMIC is supposed to spend 4.3 billion US dollars this year, most of which will be used for mature technology expansion, and a small part will be used for advanced technology research and development, the civil construction of Beijing’s new joint venture project and other parts.
By looking at the apacity construction, SMIC intends to develop its mature 12-inch production line by 10,000 pieces this year, and its mature 8-inch production line will expand by no less than 45,000 pieces.
(Via)
