陷入芯“铜”危机

Group 1 - By 2035, approximately 32% of global semiconductor production may be affected by climate change-related copper supply disruptions, which is four times the current level [1] - Chile, the largest copper producer, is facing water shortages that are slowing down copper production, with most of the 17 countries supplying copper for the chip industry expected to face drought risks by 2035 [1][3] - The low recycling rate of copper is causing urgency among chip manufacturers, highlighting the critical role of copper in semiconductor manufacturing [1] Group 2 - Copper is difficult to replace in the semiconductor industry, primarily used for interconnect lines due to its superior conductivity and low resistance compared to aluminum [1][2] - The global copper price has fluctuated significantly over the years, with a structural bull market observed from 2021 to 2022 driven by demand from electric vehicles and renewable energy [3] - The transition from optical to copper cables by companies like NVIDIA is expected to significantly increase copper demand, particularly in AI data centers [4][5] Group 3 - The global power demand for data centers is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15%, leading to an estimated additional demand of 2.6 million tons of copper by 2030 [6] - A copper supply gap of 4 million tons is anticipated by 2030 due to the growth of electric vehicles and renewable energy, coupled with limited new copper mine supplies [6][8] - The increasing use of copper in electric vehicles is notable, with estimates indicating that each electric vehicle requires between 80 to 83 kilograms of copper [8] Group 4 - The copper interconnect process is essential in integrated circuit manufacturing, utilizing techniques like the Damascene process to achieve embedded copper filling [7] - Copper serves as a critical material in various layers of chip interconnects, providing low resistance and excellent performance in modern semiconductor applications [7] - The demand for copper is further driven by the rapid growth of AI technologies, with the AI market expected to grow significantly, increasing the need for copper in computing infrastructure [9]