Core Viewpoint - SMIC reported a revenue of approximately 32 billion RMB for the first half of the year, which is significantly lower than TSMC's 425.8 billion RMB, highlighting a 12-fold revenue gap attributed to the lack of advanced EUV lithography machines [1][3][5]. Group 1: Revenue Comparison - SMIC's revenue of 32 billion RMB is substantial but pales in comparison to TSMC's 425.8 billion RMB, indicating a significant disparity in earnings [1][3]. - The 12-fold difference in revenue is primarily due to the advanced EUV lithography technology that TSMC possesses, which is crucial for manufacturing high-end chips [3][5]. Group 2: Technology and Supply Chain Challenges - The inability to acquire EUV lithography machines, due to international agreements like the Wassenaar Arrangement and the US-Japan-Netherlands pact, restricts SMIC to producing only mature process chips (14nm and above) [5][9]. - EUV lithography machines are complex systems requiring contributions from multiple countries, making it difficult for any single nation to produce them independently [5][7]. Group 3: Future Prospects and Strategies - Despite current limitations, SMIC and other Chinese companies are aggressively expanding in the mature process segment, aiming to dominate this market by 2030 [9][10]. - The industry is exploring alternative technologies, such as DUV lithography and chip stacking, to produce competitive 7nm chips, as demonstrated by Huawei's Kirin 9000S and 9010 chips [10][12]. - A fully domestic chip supply chain is being established, with advancements in design software, chip design, manufacturing, and packaging, indicating a strong foundation for future growth [12][14].