Core Viewpoint - The global semiconductor industry is facing significant challenges, with several well-known wafer fabs halting operations, delaying construction, or closing production lines, leading to a major impact on the entire industry [2]. Group 1: GlobalFoundries and STMicroelectronics - The joint wafer fab project between GlobalFoundries and STMicroelectronics in Crolles, France, has been halted after 18 months of slow progress. The project, initially planned with a total investment of €7.5 billion, aimed for full production by 2026 with an annual capacity of 620,000 wafers [3]. Group 2: Sumitomo Electric - Sumitomo Electric has decided to cancel its new silicon carbide (SiC) wafer fab project due to weak demand in the electric vehicle market and uncertainty regarding the recovery timeline. The project, announced in 2023 with an investment of ¥30 billion, was expected to start production in 2027 [4]. - The company plans to redirect resources to other growth areas, such as automotive wiring harnesses, environmentally friendly power cables, and optical components for data centers, to offset losses from the SiC wafer business [4]. Group 3: Wolfspeed - Wolfspeed announced the closure of its 6-inch SiC wafer fab in Durham, North Carolina, due to higher manufacturing costs compared to its 8-inch fab in Mohawk Valley. The timeline for this closure is currently under evaluation [5]. - Additionally, the construction of a 200mm SiC wafer fab in Ernsdorf, Germany, has been postponed from summer 2024 to 2025 [5]. Group 4: Intel - Intel has delayed the construction of its Fab 29.1 and Fab 29.2 facilities near Magdeburg, Germany, due to pending EU subsidy approvals and the need to clear and reuse topsoil. The projects, originally set to start in summer 2024, are now pushed to May 2025 [6]. - The start of production at Intel's advanced fabs using 14A (1.4nm) and 10A (1nm) processes, initially planned for late 2027, is now estimated to begin between 2029 and 2030 [6]. - Intel's chip project in Ohio, announced in January 2022 with an initial investment of over $20 billion, has also faced delays, with construction now pushed to 2026-2027 and production expected to start in 2027-2028 [6].
两座晶圆厂,突然停工?