Affected by many factors, my country's semiconductor industry continues to increase its research efforts in order to break overseas monopolies in a short period of time.
From the current point of view, more and more domestic chip technologies have achieved independence, and a group of related companies have gained more market share in subdivisions. Among them, Star Semiconductor has performed extremely well in the IGBT field.
Domestic chips usher in "beasts"
may not be familiar to readers of Star Semiconductor. According to the author's understanding, the company was founded in 2005 and is a chip company engaged in IGBT research.
After the continuous efforts of Star Semiconductor, it has won a place in the global IGBT market. According to IHS Markit data, in 2019, Star Semiconductor successfully ranked among the top ten in the world with 2.5% of the market; in 2020, Star Semiconductor The guide's ranking has risen to sixth in the world, and his strength should not be underestimated.
In fact, the fact that Star Semiconductor can achieve such results is of great significance to my country's chip industry. You know, IGBT chips are widely used in photovoltaic power generation equipment, high-speed rail, new energy vehicles and other fields, and they are extremely important power devices.
However, IGBT chips, like mobile phone chips, are firmly in the hands of foreign companies. Public data shows that foreign companies such as Infineon, Fuji Electric, ON Semiconductor, and Toshiba account for 64% of the global market share, of which Infineon dominates the market. More than 36% of the market is extremely powerful.
Today, Star Semiconductor has successfully regained 2.5% of the market from foreign investors, making up for the gap in my country's IGBT chip field.
This also means that domestic related companies no longer rely heavily on imported IGBT chips from overseas companies in the development process, and Star Semiconductor can meet the needs of domestic companies for IGBT chips to a certain extent.
Star Semiconducting business has shortcomings
It is a good thing that Star Semiconductor helps my country fill up the shortcomings of IGBT chips, but the chip company needs to consider how to go further in the fierce competition environment.
First of all, there are hidden worries in the manufacture of Star Semiconductor. According to the author's understanding, Star Semiconductor's IGBT products need to rely on third-party OEMs, and the product shipments cannot be controlled automatically.
In contrast, BYD Semiconductor, which is also an IGBT chip giant, is taking the IDM route, that is, IGBT chip design and manufacturing are all done by itself.
Considering various uncontrollable factors, BYD Semiconductor’s development route is obviously safer than Star Semiconductor.
Secondly, Star Semiconductor's business is too single. Compared with BYD Semiconductor, more than 95% of Star Semiconductor’s business revenue comes from IGBT modules, and the scope of product application is concentrated in the industrial control and power supply industries. Once partners choose to abandon Star Semiconductor, The loss can be imagined.
In contrast, BYD Semiconductor is not only involved in IGBT chips, but also has a layout in the MCU and silicon carbide fields.
Therefore, from the above point of view, the shortcomings of Star Semiconductor cannot be ignored. It needs to be changed in terms of manufacturing and business, which can appropriately broaden the business and reduce the risks caused by the single business.
Of course, Star Semiconductor is not without its advantages. For example, in terms of customer structure, it is relatively healthy. According to data from China Sea Securities, among the top five customers of Star Semiconductor, their revenue accounted for only 41.65%, and, Star Semiconductor's products have entered the supply chain of domestic automakers.
In the author's opinion, a healthy customer structure can, to a certain extent, enable Star Semiconductor to reduce the risks caused by a single business.
Affected by the lack of core, Star Semiconductor finally embarked on the road of self-built fab. According to the company’s plan, a new 6-inch wafer production line with an annual output of 360,000 wafers will be built.
In general, Star Semiconductor is shouldering the arduous task of fully independent domestic IBGT chips. I believe that with its continuous efforts, it will achieve more impressive results in the global IGBT market.