日本或将全面停止向中国出口光刻胶

Group 1 - Japan has reportedly stopped exporting photoresists to China since mid-October, affecting major companies like Canon, Nikon, and Mitsubishi Chemical, although no official announcement has been made [1] - Photoresist is a critical material in semiconductor manufacturing, used to create intricate circuit patterns on wafers by reacting to light [1] - The disruption in supply is considered a worst-case scenario for China, as it heavily relies on imports for photoresists [1] Group 2 - Japanese companies currently hold 70% of the global market share in photoresists, with firms like JSR, Shin-Etsu Chemical, and Tokyo Ohka leading the industry [4] - China has a low self-sufficiency rate in photoresists, with an import dependency of 80%-90%, and 50%-55% of imports coming from Japan [4] - In 2024, imports from Japan are expected to reach $1.36 billion, accounting for 54.5% of the total import of photosensitive chemicals [4] - Advanced EUV photoresists are entirely imported, with over 90% dependency for ArF photoresists and over 95% for KrF photoresists used in various semiconductor processes [4] - The domestic electronic chemicals industry in China is accelerating its localization efforts, with some companies achieving full supply chain autonomy for photoresists, potentially entering international semiconductor supply chains [4] - If Japan indeed halts exports, it could significantly impact China and provoke retaliatory measures [4]