NEWS

The future of the semiconductor industry is undoubtedly bright. As the cornerstone of modern technology, its development is deeply intertwined with the major trends of global technological innovation. In particular, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and the space economy has brought unprecedented growth opportunities for the semiconductor industry, laying a solid foundation for its expansion. The iteration of large AI models and the surging demand for computing power have driven an explosion in the demand for high-end GPUs, High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), and other semiconductor products. Meanwhile, the expansion of the space economy, with the miniaturization and high-performance requirements of spacecraft and satellites, places higher demands on specialized semiconductor materials and chips. According to market research institutions, the global semiconductor industry is projected to steadily approach the trillion-dollar mark in the coming years, with the market space continuously expanding. However, behind this vast prospect, the timely and stable supply of critical basic materials remains a persistent challenge for the industry, causing deep concern among professionals worldwide.

Currently, the resurgence of trade protectionism globally has become a major obstacle to the supply of critical materials for semiconductors, directly impacting the accessibility of these materials, exacerbating supply chain risks, and consequently hindering the development plans and capacity layout of the global semiconductor manufacturing industry. The difficulty of acquiring core minerals necessary for semiconductor manufacturing—whether key rare elements like gallium, germanium, and antimony, or rare earth materials such as yttrium and scandium—is constantly increasing. These materials are not only the "invisible lifeline" of chip manufacturing but are also indispensable components for high-end semiconductor packaging and advanced process technologies. The uneven global distribution of mines and the high concentration of refining capacity further intensify the supply imbalance between the East and the West. For example, China controls over 90% of the world's gallium refining capacity and holds a near-monopoly on yttrium refining. The United States, on the other hand, has zero domestic production of scandium and lacks any operational alternative sources outside of China. Currently, the scandium inventory of major US semiconductor manufacturers is only sufficient for a few months. This imbalance in the supply structure poses a severe challenge to the security of the semiconductor industry's supply chain.