Reference, it never rains but it pours, the current global chip shortage problem remains unresolved, many manufacturers are struggling to support, but yesterday the news, it is reported, on October 18 at 1 PM 49 points, 5.2 on the Richter scale earthquake in Taiwan, China, earthquake depth of 30.2 km, epicenter located in Hualien county north 23.5 km north east, The largest earthquake Hualien county, Yilan County, Nantou County level 4. This sudden natural disaster, may cause certain impact to the chip industry now.
In 2018, a strong earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale hit The city of Hualian. The semiconductor industry shook global prices during the earthquake in 2018, but MLCC prices soared after the earthquake.
As is known to all, Taiwan occupies a near-monopoly position in the key links of the semiconductor industry chain. The global wafer founds such as TSMC, UMC and POWERchip have all set up bases in Taiwan. If Taiwan suffers a serious natural disaster, it is equivalent to moving the "life gate" of the global semiconductor industry chain.
IC Insights specifically noted that a severe earthquake or typhoon in Taiwan could have a severe impact on the entire electronics supply chain. Foundries have a diverse clientele and are a single manufacturing source for many different types of components, so damage to foundries' capacity would be more severe than damage to stand-alone IDM plants, the agency said.
In addition, DRAM giant Nanke, panel manufacturer AU and other manufacturers have factories in Hualien.
However, both private and industrial sectors in Taiwan have always attached great importance to the safety of building structures, and the relevant building regulations have strict regulations on it, especially the fabs that play a key role in the semiconductor industry chain. Production line of resistance degree and the ability to quickly recover strain after the earthquake has a quite high level (according to the EE Times American reporter, TSMC said months ago the tainan fabs line can tolerate magnitude 7.3 earthquake), points out some upstream equipment manufacturers, because the semiconductor and panel factory equipment precision is very high, Therefore, the requirements for the plant and equipment to withstand earthquakes are much higher than the average company, but because the semiconductor and panel front process uses more chemicals and gases, most of which are toxic. Once the occurrence of a large earthquake, not to worry about the machine damaged displacement, but afraid of equipment pipeline leakage. Therefore, if the earthquake degree reaches a certain level, even if the earthquake does not lead to power cuts and production line interruption, but according to the regulations, the dust-free room staff will be temporarily evacuated.
At present, the global chip is still in a state of shortage, wafer foundry capacity demand, including TSMC, UMC, World Advanced, power semiconductor, the fourth quarter full orders, advanced and mature process capacity in the first half of next year has been booked by customers, jumping the queue to raise prices, prices have become normal. Now the earthquake, I do not know how much impact the earthquake will have on Taiwan's semiconductor industry capacity, but really pinched sweat.
At present, it is not clear which direction the situation will go, and more information will have to be answered by the manufacturers.