China: Export restrictions on gallium, etc.!
– Investigate the degree of impact on each company. What is the impact on Japanese companies?–
From the latest article of Newswitch, we will deliver a summary report.
China’s tightening of export controls:
Japanese materials and semiconductor manufacturers are gathering information and paying close attention to the impact.
With this regulation, China will restrict the export of strategic goods.
Measures based on China’s Export Control Law. It will be implemented from August 1st.
Yasutoshi Nishimura, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
A press conference was held after the cabinet meeting on the 4th.
Regarding China’s tightening of gallium export controls,
he said, “We will confirm with the Chinese side about their intentions and operational policies.”
Japan’s semiconductor manufacturing equipment export regulations:
Align with the United States and the Netherlands. T
he Japanese government will begin tightening export controls
on semiconductor manufacturing equipment from July.
“GaN power semiconductor” Mitsubishi Chemical Group’s gallium nitride substrate
Impact on GaN substrate manufacturing:
GaN substrates have less power loss than silicon-based substrates.
Demand is expected to increase for power semiconductors and 5G devices.
The Mitsubishi Chemical Group and Sumitomo Chemical handle GaN substrates.
Impact on Mitsubishi Chemical:
Mitsubishi Chemical procures gallium from multiple suppliers.
Of course, there are also Chinese products.
We have a certain amount of stock in Japan, and we are investigating the future impact.
Impact on Sumitomo Chemical:
We are collecting information, including the impact, and plan to take countermeasures.
DOWA Holdings：
DOWA Holdings Subsidiary DOWA Electronics handles high-purity gallium.
It is used as a raw material for wafers and infrared LEDs.
It is sold outside the company and boasts the world’s top market share.
Impact on Nichia:
Top market share for GaN semiconductor lasers.
High-purity gallium for compound semiconductors is used for the substrates of our own products.
We do not expect the supply to shrink any time soon after August.
Impact on Kyocera:
We are aiming for early commercialization of products using GaN laser technology.
In 2021, it acquired US SLD Laser,
which has GaN technology for laser light sources, for just under 50 billion yen.
Impact on ROHM:
In 2022, we will prepare a mass production system for GaN power semiconductors.
Power semiconductors have 60% less power loss than silicon ones. I
t also features high-speed switching performance.
Data centers and communication base stations：
where current is turned on and off at high frequency.
Demand from telecommunications carriers is expected.
Impact on Renesas Electronics:
Development of the next-generation “E-Axle” for EVs is underway with Nidec.
Among them, he has an “intention to manufacture GaN power devices”.
However, no concrete plans have been decided.
Sony Semiconductor Solutions’ response:
We are collecting information and investigating the impact.
The company uses GaN in some of its specialized sensors and lasers.
The impact of “China’s gallium export restrictions” is small:
The gallium utilization business of Japanese semiconductor manufacturers has just started.
The impact on sales for the time being will be limited.
Looking at the export restrictions this time, the impact will be small.
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/eb9e21c49975e5b639159088078f2e9dddfce234