Procuring ASML’s high-NA EUV machines becomes a costly undertaking for Samsung when it starts developing and eventually, mass producing sub-2nm wafers, but it is a risk that the Korean giant has to take if it is to compete against its biggest rival in the semiconductor space, TSMC. To help make this transition smoother, South Korea reportedly plans to remove tariffs on imported paraphernalia to help Samsung reach its desired goals. Also, the company is playing its part because it had already installed a high-NA EUV machine for 1.4nm wafer production in March.
To accelerate 2nm GAA chip production, Samsung was earlier reported to place additional orders for high-NA EUV machines
Even though Samsung was previously rumored to have canceled the development of its 1.4nm process, the semiconductor manufacturer has apparently found a way past its yield problem for the 2nm GAA node, with its Exynos 2600 said to be prepped for mass production later this year. Naturally, after proving that its next-generation node delivers the same performance as TSMC’s 2nm architecture and can be manufactured in higher volume, Samsung would move to the next phase beyond fabricating its chipsets: taking orders from customers.
To help its plans reach fruition, Economic News Daily reports that the South Korean government will bring tariffs to zero to boost competitiveness. After all, the semiconductor manufacturer was earlier reported to order more of ASML’s high-NA EUV machines as it aims to ramp up 2nm wafer production. At around $400 million apiece, this hardware was already ludicrously expensive without the tariffs in place, and the overall bill needs to be lightened if Samsung ever wants to find itself in the same conversation as TSMC when it comes to technological prowess.
As for the machine was currently installed for the purpose of 1.4nm production, Samsung procured the EXE:5000 from ASML earlier this year and installed it on its Hwaseong plant. The company might be focused on 2nm wafer production, but the report states that Samsung eventually hopes to begin mass production of 1.4nm chips in 2027, giving it a whole year to materialize a lead against TSMC.
News Source: Economic News Daily
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