国产硅片厂商上海超硅冲刺IPO：300mm全球份额不到2%、亏损近40亿

Core Viewpoint - The semiconductor industry, particularly the silicon wafer sector, is gaining attention as domestic companies like Shanghai ChaoSilicon Semiconductor Co., Ltd. pursue IPOs amid a push for self-sufficiency in semiconductor manufacturing [1] Company Overview - Shanghai ChaoSilicon was established in July 2008 and transitioned to a joint-stock company in May 2021, focusing on the R&D, production, and sales of 300mm and 200mm semiconductor silicon wafers, along with related processing services [1] - The company has completed eight rounds of financing since 2014, with a current valuation of approximately 20 billion yuan [1] Market Context - The global semiconductor silicon wafer market is shifting towards larger sizes, with 200mm and 300mm wafers being the mainstream specifications, where larger wafers reduce edge loss and improve efficiency [2] - 200mm wafers are mature and widely used in automotive electronics and IoT, while 300mm wafers are more technically demanding and profitable, primarily serving logic and memory chip markets [2] Financial Performance - Revenue for the years 2022, 2023, 2024, and the first half of 2025 is reported as 921 million yuan, 928 million yuan, 1.327 billion yuan, and 756 million yuan respectively, with net losses of 803 million yuan, 1.044 billion yuan, 1.299 billion yuan, and 736 million yuan [4] - Cumulative losses over three and a half years amount to 3.882 billion yuan, with retained earnings as of mid-2025 at -4.708 billion yuan [4] Profitability Analysis - The company's gross margins for its main business are negative, with figures of -12.47%, -7.61%, -3.72%, and -3.27% for the respective periods, significantly lower than industry averages [4] - Specific gross margins for 300mm wafers are -42.91%, -24.16%, and -8.50%, while 200mm wafers show margins of 5.22%, -0.59%, and -2.80% [4] Pricing Trends - The average price of 300mm silicon wafers decreased from 388.03 yuan per piece in 2022 to 328.4 yuan in the first half of 2025, while 200mm wafers dropped from 204.19 yuan to 172.54 yuan [5] Challenges and Explanations for Losses - The company attributes its ongoing losses to several factors, including rising costs during capacity ramp-up, high R&D and management expenses, increased borrowing costs, and significant inventory write-downs [6] - Cumulative investments in 300mm and 200mm wafer production lines exceed 16 billion yuan, with actual production capacities falling short of designed capacities [6] Future Outlook - Shanghai ChaoSilicon anticipates achieving profitability by 2029, contingent on meeting specific production and sales targets for its silicon wafers [9] - The company acknowledges that delays in production line development or slower industry recovery could postpone profitability [9]