Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-10-29 18:11Core Insights - The semiconductor industry is facing a significant cost increase due to a 90% price hike in hexafluorotungsten, a critical gas used in chip manufacturing, starting in 2025 [1][3] - The price of tungsten, the raw material for hexafluorotungsten, has surged approximately 95% in China, reaching 280,000 RMB per ton [3] - The supply chain is undergoing a fundamental shift, with tungsten accounting for about 60% of the cost of hexafluorotungsten, making it highly sensitive to price changes [3][10] Industry Impact - Hexafluorotungsten is essential in semiconductor manufacturing, particularly in chemical vapor deposition processes, where it deposits high-purity tungsten films on wafers [7][8] - The global semiconductor industry consumes 7,000 to 8,000 tons of hexafluorotungsten annually, highlighting its critical role in producing logic chips, DRAM, and 3D NAND flash memory [8] - China's dominance in tungsten mining, with over 80% of global production, positions it as a key player in the semiconductor supply chain [10] Company Developments - China Shipbuilding Special Gas is a leading supplier of hexafluorotungsten, with an annual capacity of 2,000 tons and a global market coverage of 70.31% [10][12] - Other Chinese companies, such as Nanda Optoelectronics and Haohua Technology, are also expanding their presence in the hexafluorotungsten market [12] - Major tungsten producers like Xiamen Tungsten and Zhangyuan Tungsten are well-positioned in the supply chain, controlling the entire process from mining to deep processing [12] Market Dynamics - The Korean government plans to subsidize domestic production of key semiconductor materials to mitigate supply chain risks starting in 2025 [12] - The semiconductor industry is cyclical, and current high demand may decrease, leading to uncertainty in tungsten prices and their impact on hexafluorotungsten [12][14] - The volatility in hexafluorotungsten prices is prompting the semiconductor industry to reassess supply chain dependencies and consider diversification strategies [14]