Core Viewpoint - The fire at Kanto Denka's nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) plant raises concerns about potential disruptions in the semiconductor supply chain, particularly affecting major clients like Samsung and Kioxia [2][3]. Group 1: Incident Details - A fire occurred at Kanto Denka's NF3 plant in Shibuya City, Gunma Prefecture, resulting in one worker's death and another injury [2]. - One of the two production lines at the plant suffered partial damage, leading to a suspension of operations [2]. - Kanto Denka holds over 90% of the domestic market share for NF3 production in Japan [2][3]. Group 2: Impact on Clients - Kioxia stated that the fire would not directly impact production or earnings for the July-September period due to alternative gas sources and existing inventory [2]. - Other clients of Kanto Denka include Sony and Micron Technology, indicating a broader potential impact on the semiconductor industry [2][3]. Group 3: Supply Chain Concerns - Analysts express concerns that a prolonged shutdown of the plant could exacerbate capacity constraints for manufacturers ramping up production to meet AI demand [2]. - The vulnerability of the NF3 supply chain is highlighted, with increasing overseas competition in NF3 production [3]. - Mitsui Chemicals announced plans to cease NF3 production by March 2026 due to intensified price competition and rising raw material costs [3]. Group 4: Government Initiatives - The Japanese government is providing subsidies to domestic semiconductor manufacturing equipment and materials manufacturers to strengthen the local supply chain [4]. - The Japan Investment Corporation (JIC) has previously acquired semiconductor materials manufacturer JSR and called for industry restructuring [4].
突发,日本关键芯片材料工厂大火,面临缺货危机
半导体行业观察·2025-08-14 01:28