Semiconductor industry in China

China is currently the world's largest semiconductor market in terms of consumption. In 2020, China represented 53.7% of worldwide chip sales, or $239.45 billion out of $446.1 billion. However, a large percentage are imported from multinational suppliers. In 2020, imports took up over 83% ($199.7 billion) of total chip sales. In response, the country launched a number of initiatives to reduce its reliance on foreign companies.{{Cite book |last=Zhang |first=Angela Huyue |title=High Wire: How China Regulates Big Tech and Governs Its Economy |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2024 |isbn=9780197682258 |doi=10.1093/oso/9780197682258.001.0001}}{{Rp|page=274}} To reduce reliance on foreign semiconductor companies, CICF pools resources from state investors including the Ministry of Finance, China Tobacco, China Mobile, and China Development Bank.{{Rp|page=274}}

In 2022, the country announced a Made in China 2025 goal of 70% domestic production.{{cite web|last=Paper |first=Technical |url=https://semiengineering.com/china-accelerates-foundry-power-semi-efforts/ |title=China Accelerates Foundry, Power Semi Efforts |publisher=Semiengineering.com |date=2022-05-09 |accessdate=2022-05-13}}{{cite web |url=https://semianalysis.com/the-impending-chinese-nand-apocalypse-ymtc-128-layer-nand-is-the-first-semiconductor-where-china-is-technologically-competitive/ |title=The Impending Chinese NAND Apocalypse – YMTC 128 Layer NAND Is The First Semiconductor Where China Is Technologically Competitive – SemiAnalysis |publisher=Semianalysis.com |date=2021-10-01 |accessdate=2022-05-13 |archive-date=2022-05-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507092752/https://semianalysis.com/the-impending-chinese-nand-apocalypse-ymtc-128-layer-nand-is-the-first-semiconductor-where-china-is-technologically-competitive/ |url-status=dead }}

China leads the world in terms of number of new fabs under construction, with 8 out of 19 worldwide in 2021. A total of 17 fabs were expected to start construction between 2021 and 2023. Total installed capacity of Chinese-owned chipmakers was also set to increase from 2.96 million wafers per month (wpm) in 2020 to 3.57 million wpm in 2021.

The semiconductor industry in China began between a period in 1956, along with the country's first transistor produced in a state lab. In 1965, China created their first integrated circuit. From 1956 to 1990, the industry followed a Soviet-style system of industrial organization.{{sfn|VerWey|2019|p=3}} China's State Council prioritized semiconductor technology in its "Outline for Science and Technology Development, 1956–1967," leading to the establishment of semiconductor-related degree programs in five major universities. The Huajing Group's Wuxi Factory No. 742, operational from 1960, played a crucial role in training industry experts and supporting subsequent industrial strategies.{{sfn|VerWey|2019|p=10}}

In the mid-1960s through the late 1960s, China began a semiconductor program.{{Cite book |last=Mullaney |first=Thomas S. |title=The Chinese Computer: a Global History of the Information Age |date=2024 |publisher=The MIT Press |isbn=9780262047517 |location=Cambridge, MA}}{{Rp|page=101}}

During the 1970s, China's semiconductor industry operated with research conducted in state labs and manufacturing in separate state-owned factories, hindering technology transfer. Most of the approximately 40 factories focused on producing basic diodes and transistors rather than integrated circuits (ICs). The Cultural Revolution from 1965 to 1975 further disrupted industry progress. However by 1972, China was producing third-generation computers.{{Rp|page=101}}

Deng Xiaoping's economic reforms starting in 1978 initiated significant changes. By the early 1980s, under the sixth Five-Year Plan (1981-1985), the State Council formed a "Computer and Large Scale IC Lead Group" to modernize the industry. Despite importing 24 secondhand semiconductor lines by 1985, only the Wuxi Factory No. 742 met production targets. Efforts then narrowed to focus on five key firms, but cumulative setbacks left the industry lagging behind global leaders.{{sfn|VerWey|2019|p=10}}

In the 1990s, China adopted a strategy of concentrating resources on a few large firms to foster partnerships with foreign companies, aiming to accelerate technological advancement.{{Cite thesis |title=Rapid Advance: High Technology in China in the Global Electronic Age |url=https://doi.org/10.7916/D8HQ464Q |publisher=Columbia University |date=2013 |doi=10.7916/d8hq464q |language=en |first=Susan Kay |last=Mays |page=4}}{{sfn|VerWey|2019|p=11}} Initiatives included joint ventures with Nortel, Philips, NEC, and ITT starting in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The eighth Five-Year Plan (1991-1995) focused on developing Huajing (operator of Wuxi Factory No. 742) into a leading integrated device manufacturer (IDM),{{Cite web |last=Fuller |first=Douglas |date=May 2016 |title='IC Fabrication', Paper Tigers, Hidden Dragons: Firms and the Political Economy of China's Technological Development |url=https://academic.oup.com/book/12648/chapter/162598303 |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=academic.oup.com |doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198777205.003.0006}} supported by significant funding and a joint venture with Lucent Technologies.{{sfn|VerWey|2019|p=11}} However, delays in implementation resulted in outdated manufacturing technologies and slower market entry. The ninth Five-Year Plan (1996-2000) introduced Project 909, aiming for a domestic firm, Huahong, to produce internationally competitive chips using Chinese intellectual property and engineers.{{sfn|VerWey|2019|p=11}} While Huahong successfully partnered with NEC to enter production promptly, reliance on Japanese expertise limited knowledge transfer. Economic downturns in the global DRAM market by 2002 led to significant financial losses for Huahong, prompting changes in its partnership and operational strategies.{{sfn|VerWey|2019|p=11}}

In 2014, the China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund was established in an effort to reduce dependence on foreign semiconductor companies.{{Cite book |last=Zhang |first=Angela Huyue |title=High Wire: How China Regulates Big Tech and Governs Its Economy |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2024 |isbn=9780197682258 |doi=10.1093/oso/9780197682258.001.0001}}{{Rp|page=274}} In addition to the China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, many other China government guidance funds also frequently invest in companies in the semiconductor industry.{{Cite book |last=Lan |first=Xiaohuan |title=How China Works: An Introduction to China's State-led Economic Development |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2024 |isbn=978-981-97-0079-0 |translator-last=Topp |translator-first=Gary |doi=10.1007/978-981-97-0080-6}}{{Rp|page=|pages=164-167}}

Due to the rapid pace of Chinese semiconductor industry advances, on 7 October 2022, the U.S. government announced a major set of export restrictions toward China, with a focus on artificial Intelligence and semiconductor technologies, with the aim of disrupting the development of China's semiconductor industry.{{cite web |last1=Allen |first1=Gregory |title=Choking off China's Access to the Future of AI |url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/choking-chinas-access-future-ai |website=Center for Strategic and International Studies |date=11 October 2022 |publisher=CSIS}} In January 2023, these export controls were made multilateral with an agreement between the governments of the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands.{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Gregory |date=March 1, 2023 |title=Clues to the U.S.-Dutch-Japanese Semiconductor Export Controls Deal Are Hiding in Plain Sight |url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/clues-us-dutch-japanese-semiconductor-export-controls-deal-are-hiding-plain-sight |website=Center for Strategic and International Studies}} Between October 2022 and May 2023, China's government responded with a diverse set of measures, including filing a suit in the World Trade Organization.{{Cite journal |last=Allen |first=Gregory |date=May 3, 2023 |title=China's New Strategy for Waging the Microchip Tech War |url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/chinas-new-strategy-waging-microchip-tech-war |access-date=May 7, 2023 |website=Center for Strategic and International Studies}}{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Gregory C. |date=2023-10-06 |title=In Chip Race, China Gives Huawei the Steering Wheel: Huawei's New Smartphone and the Future of Semiconductor Export Controls |url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/chip-race-china-gives-huawei-steering-wheel-huaweis-new-smartphone-and-future |language=en}}

On 26 December 2023, China prohibited the use of CPUs made by US companies Intel and AMD for Chinese government PCs and servers.{{Cite web |author1=Roshan Ashraf Shaikh |date=2024-03-25 |title=China blocks Intel and AMD CPUs for government offices and servers, plans to switch to domestic-made alternatives |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/china-bans-intel-and-amd-cpus-for-government-offices-and-servers-plans-to-switch-to-domestic-made-alternatives |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Tom's Hardware |language=en}} The country instead approved 18 processors made by Chinese companies Loongson and Phytium. State-owned companies were also instructed to transition towards Chinese hardware by 2027. The ban was part of China's strategy to rely more on its domestically designed options in response to US sanctions and export controls.

On 15th September 2024, China announced significant advancements in its domestic semiconductor industry, promoting two new deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography machines. One of the machines operates at a wavelength of 193nm with a resolution below 65nm and an overlay accuracy below 8nm. The second machine has a wavelength of 248nm, with 110nm resolution and 25nm overlay accuracy. {{Cite web |date=2024-09-15 |title=China touts home-grown chip machines amid self-sufficiency drive |url=https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3278597/china-touts-home-grown-chip-lithography-machines-amid-semiconductor-self-sufficiency-drive |access-date=2024-09-16 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}

{{main|List of semiconductor fabrication plants}}

Samsung, who is currently the world's largest producer of NAND flash memory, has two plants in Xi'an which accounts for 42.5% percent of its total production capacity, and 15.3% of worldwide NAND production capacity.{{cite web|author= Che Pan in Beijing + FOLLOW |url=https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3161382/samsungs-xian-chip-plants-hit-covid-19-lockdowns-tech-giant-moves |title=Samsung's Xian chip plants hit by Covid-19 lockdowns as tech giant moves to minimise impact | South China Morning Post |publisher=Scmp.com |date=2021-12-29 |accessdate=2022-05-13}}{{cite news |last=Byung-wook |first=Kim |url=http://m.koreaherald.com/amp/view.php?ud=20211229000583 |title=Samsung Electronics cuts chip production in Xian due to lockdown |work=The Korea Herald |date=29 December 2021 |accessdate=29 December 2021 }} It was the company's largest overseas investment in chip production with an initial cost of $7 billion.{{cite web|author=Peter Clarke |url=https://www.eetimes.com/samsung-to-spend-7-billion-on-wafer-fab-in-xian-china/ |title=Samsung to spend $7 billion on wafer fab in Xian, China |publisher=EETimes |date=2019-05-28 |accessdate=2022-05-13}}

{{Main|Yangtze Memory Technologies|XMC (company)}}

Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp (YMTC) is a Chinese semiconductor integrated device manufacturer specializing in flash memory (NAND) chips. Founded in Wuhan, China in 2016, the company received backing from Tsinghua Unigroup. Prior to YMTC, China had no company capable of producing flash memory. Its consumer products are marketed under the brand Zhitai.

In 2020, YMTC was using a 20 nm process to make 64-layer 3D NAND flash.{{cite web |title=China's YMTC is Poised to Lead in NAND Flash Technology |url=https://www.eetasia.com/chinas-ymtc-is-poised-to-lead-in-nand-flash-technology/ |website=EE Times Asia |language=en |date=3 November 2020}} In April 2020, the company unveiled its first 128 layers vertical NAND chip, then the most advanced layer count in mass production, based on XTacking architecture, which then entered production.{{cite web |title=YMTC makes a memory chip that competes with Samsung. What's next? |url=https://technode.com/2020/04/23/ymtc-memory-chip/ |website=TechNode |date=23 April 2020}}

In 2021, YMTC was producing around 80,000 wafers per month, with plans to expand its first plant to reach 100,000 wpm capacity by 2022;{{cite web|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/China-tech/China-s-top-maker-of-memory-chips-plans-to-double-output-in-2021 |title=China's top maker of memory chips plans to double output in 2021 - Nikkei Asia |publisher=Asia.nikkei.com |date=2021-01-12 |accessdate=2022-05-13}} this would have given the company around 6-8% of global market share.

{{Main|Changxin Memory Technologies}}

ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) is a Chinese semiconductor integrated device manufacturer headquartered in Hefei, Anhui specializing in the production of DRAM memory. As of 2020, ChangXin can manufacture LPDDR4 and DDR4 RAM on a 19 nm process with a capacity of 40,000 wafers per month.{{cite news |last=Mellor |first=Chris |url=https://blocksandfiles.com/2020/10/13/micron-may-sue-chinese-dram-maker-cxmt-for-stealing-ip/ |title=Micron said to be mulling action against Chinese DRAM maker CXMT – report |work=Blocks & Files |date=2020-10-13 |accessdate=2021-08-16 }} The company plans to increase output to 120,000 wpm and launch 17 nm (LP)DDR5 by end of 2022, with a target total capacity of 300,000 wpm in the mid-long term.{{cite web|url=https://www.tomshardware.com/news/cxmt-ddr5-memory-china |title=China's CXMT Aims to Tackle DDR5 Market Later This Year | Tom's Hardware |publisher=Tomshardware.com |date= 28 February 2022|accessdate=2022-05-13}}

{{Main|Hangzhou Silan Microelectronics}}

Hangzhou Silan Microelectronics is a Chinese semiconductor company headquartered in Hangzhou. The company focuses on the design of integrated circuit (IC) chip and the manufacturing of semiconductor microelectronics-related products. It is one of the largest integrated device manufacturers (IDM) in China.{{Cite web |title=The IDM model is receiving more attention in China's semiconductor industry. Industry pioneer Chen Xiangdong sees the potential for more IDM players to emerge |url=https://www.laoyaoba.com/n/790599 |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=www.laoyaoba.com}}

• Silergy

{{Main|Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation}}

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) is a partially state-owned publicly listed Chinese pure-play semiconductor foundry company.{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/994bca54-7212-11e9-bf5c-6eeb837566c5 |title=Co-chiefs of China's top chipmaker SMIC fighting over strategy |website=Financial Times |date=9 May 2019 |access-date=2019-05-26 |archive-date=2019-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526231642/https://www.ft.com/content/994bca54-7212-11e9-bf5c-6eeb837566c5 |url-status=live }} (published 05-09-2019){{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2019/05/24/either-huawei-doesnt-need-u-s-tech-or-it-does-which-is-it/#47e1ff18e78d |title=Either Huawei Doesn't Need U.S. Tech Or It Does. Which Is It? |website=Forbes |access-date=2019-05-26 |archive-date=2019-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526231657/https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2019/05/24/either-huawei-doesnt-need-u-s-tech-or-it-does-which-is-it/#47e1ff18e78d |url-status=live }} (published 05-24-2019) It is the largest contract chip maker in mainland China and 5th largest globally, with a market share of 5.3% in the second quarter of 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.ctpost.com/technology/businessinsider/article/China-s-biggest-chipmaker-has-applied-for-13896220.php |title=China's biggest chipmaker has applied for 'voluntary delisting' from the New York Stock Exchange amid the trade war and Trump's crackdown on Chinese tech (SMI) |website=Connecticut Post |access-date=2019-05-26 |archive-date=2019-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526231640/https://www.ctpost.com/technology/businessinsider/article/China-s-biggest-chipmaker-has-applied-for-13896220.php |url-status=live }} (published 05-25-2019){{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-semiconductors-breakingviews/breakingviews-money-cant-buy-chinas-chip-industry-much-love-idUSKCN1Q805V |title=Breakingviews - Money can't buy China's chip industry much love |website=Reuters |date=19 February 2019 |access-date=2019-05-26 |archive-date=2019-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526233320/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-semiconductors-breakingviews/breakingviews-money-cant-buy-chinas-chip-industry-much-love-idUSKCN1Q805V |url-status=live |last1=Beddor |first1=Christopher }} (published 02-18-2019)

SMIC is headquartered in Shanghai{{cite web|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Companies/Semiconductor-Manufacturing-International-Corp|title=SMIC|website=Nikkei Asian Review|access-date=2019-05-26|archive-date=2019-05-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526233322/https://asia.nikkei.com/Companies/Semiconductor-Manufacturing-International-Corp|url-status=live}} and incorporated in the Cayman Islands.{{cite web|url=https://www.nasdaq.com/markets/ipos/company/semiconductor-manufacturing-international-corp-600796-37732|title=SMIC|website=Nasdaq|access-date=2019-05-26|archive-date=2019-05-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526233322/https://www.nasdaq.com/markets/ipos/company/semiconductor-manufacturing-international-corp-600796-37732|url-status=live}} It has wafer fabrication sites throughout mainland China, offices in the United States, Italy, Japan, and Taiwan, and a representative office in Hong Kong.{{cite web|title=SMIC - Contact Us|url=http://www.smics.com/eng/contact_us.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104212308/http://www.smics.com/eng/contact_us.php|archive-date=4 January 2012|access-date=6 January 2012|work=SMIC website}} It provides integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing services on 350 nm to 14 nm process technologies. State-owned civilian and military telecommunications equipment provider Datang Telecom Group as well as the China National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund are major shareholders of SMIC.{{cite web|title=Annual Report 2019|url=http://northeurope.blob.euroland.com/press-releases-attachments/1219270/HKEX-EPS_20200423_9246885-0.PDF|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906010710/http://northeurope.blob.euroland.com/press-releases-attachments/1219270/HKEX-EPS_20200423_9246885-0.PDF|archive-date=2020-09-06|publisher=Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation|page=70}}{{Cite news|last=Sheng|first=Wei|date=May 18, 2020|title=SMIC gets $2 billion from China's state-backed funds|work=TechNode|url=https://technode.com/2020/05/18/chinas-state-backed-funds-inject-2-billion-into-local-chip-maker-smic/|url-status=live|access-date=September 5, 2020|archive-date=July 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706092810/https://technode.com/2020/05/18/chinas-state-backed-funds-inject-2-billion-into-local-chip-maker-smic/}}{{Cite news|last=Strumpf|first=Dan|date=2020-09-26|title=U.S. Sets Export Controls on China's Top Chip Maker|language=en-US|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-sets-export-controls-on-chinas-top-chip-maker-11601118353|access-date=2020-09-26|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=2020-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112220457/https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-sets-export-controls-on-chinas-top-chip-maker-11601118353|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Whalen|first=Jeanne|date=September 26, 2020|title=U.S. restricts tech exports to China's biggest semiconductor manufacturer in escalation of trade tensions|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/09/26/us-restricts-exports-chinas-smic/|access-date=October 13, 2020|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112221745/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/09/26/us-restricts-exports-chinas-smic/|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Hua Hong Semiconductor}}

Hua Hong Semiconductor Limited is a publicly listed Chinese pure-play semiconductor foundry company based in Shanghai, established in 1996 as part of China's national efforts to boost its IC industry. Currently, Hua Hong's most advanced node is achieved by its subsidiary Shanghai Huali (HLMC), which in 2022 could manufacture a 28/22nm process; in 2022 advanced 14nm technology was being developed by the company.{{cite web|author= Che Pan in Beijing + FOLLOW |url=https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3171294/chinas-no-2-chip-maker-seeks-shanghai-listing-expand-capacity-beijing |title=China's No 2 chip maker seeks Shanghai listing to expand capacity, as Beijing continues to back self-sufficiency drive | South China Morning Post |publisher=Scmp.com |date=2022-03-21 |accessdate=2022-05-13}}{{cite web |author=Shanghai Huali Microelectronics Corporation |url=https://isesglobal.com/members/shanghai-huali-microelectronics-corporation/ |title=SHANGHAI HUALI MICROELECTRONICS CORPORATION - International Semiconductor Executive Summits |publisher=Isesglobal.com |date= |accessdate=2022-05-13 |archive-date=2022-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925142136/https://isesglobal.com/members/shanghai-huali-microelectronics-corporation/ |url-status=dead }}

Hua Hong Semiconductor is currently mainland China's second largest chip-maker behind rival SMIC and the 6th largest globally, with a market share of 2.6% in the second quarter of 2021.

• Nexchip
• United Nova Technology
• Wingtech

{{Main|HiSilicon}}

HiSilicon is a Chinese fabless semiconductor company based in Shenzhen, Guangdong and wholly owned by Huawei. HiSilicon purchases licenses for CPU designs from ARM Holdings, including the ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore, ARM Cortex-M3, ARM Cortex-A7 MPCore, ARM Cortex-A15 MPCore,[http://www.arm.com/about/newsroom/hisilicon-licenses-arm-technology-for-use-in-networking-infrastructure-and-mobile-computing-applications.php HiSilicon Licenses ARM Technology for use in Innovative 3G/4G Base Station, Networking Infrastructure and Mobile Computing Applications] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127182027/http://www.arm.com/about/newsroom/hisilicon-licenses-arm-technology-for-use-in-networking-infrastructure-and-mobile-computing-applications.php |date=27 January 2013 }}, 2 August 2011 on ARM.com{{cite web|title=HiSilicon Technologies Co., Ltd. 海思半导体有限公司|url=http://www.arm.com/community/partners/display_company/rw/company/hisilicon-technologies-co-ltd/|publisher=ARM Holdings|access-date=26 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115132900/http://www.arm.com/community/partners/display_company/rw/company/hisilicon-technologies-co-ltd/|archive-date=15 January 2013|url-status=dead}} ARM Cortex-A53, ARM Cortex-A57 and also for their Mali graphics cores.[http://www.arm.com/about/newsroom/arm-launches-cortex-a50-series-the-worlds-most-energy-efficient-64-bit-processors.php ARM Launches Cortex-A50 Series, the World’s Most Energy-Efficient 64-bit Processors] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105105727/http://www.arm.com/about/newsroom/arm-launches-cortex-a50-series-the-worlds-most-energy-efficient-64-bit-processors.php |date=5 January 2013 }} on ARM.com{{cite web|last=Lai|first=Richard|title=Huawei's HiSilicon K3V3 chipset due 2H 2013, to be based on Cortex-A15|date=9 January 2013 |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/01/08/huawei-hisilicon-k3v3/|publisher=Engadget|access-date=26 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515174722/http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/08/huawei-hisilicon-k3v3/|archive-date=15 May 2013|url-status=live}} HiSilicon has also purchased licenses from Vivante Corporation for their GC4000 graphics core.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

HiSilicon is reputed to be the largest domestic designer of integrated circuits in China.{{cite news |title = Hisilicon grown into the largest local IC design companies |url = http://www.windosi.com/news/201209/395909.html |access-date = 26 April 2013 |newspaper = Windosi |date = September 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140821115038/http://www.windosi.com/news/201209/395909.html |archive-date = 21 August 2014 |url-status = live }} In 2020, the U.S. instituted rules that require American firms providing certain equipment to HiSilicon or non-American firms who use American technologies that supply HiSilicon to have licenses{{Cite news|last=Josh|first=Horwitz|date=21 May 2020|title=U.S. strikes at a Huawei prize: chip juggernaut HiSilicon|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-huawei-tech-chips-analysis/u-s-strikes-at-a-huawei-prize-chip-juggernaut-hisilicon-idUSKBN22X2T3|url-status=live|access-date=22 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522233151/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-huawei-tech-chips-analysis/u-s-strikes-at-a-huawei-prize-chip-juggernaut-hisilicon-idUSKBN22X2T3|archive-date=22 May 2020}} and Huawei announced it will stop producing its Kirin chipset from 15 September 2020, onwards.{{Cite news|date=8 August 2020|title=Huawei to stop making flagship chipsets as U.S. pressure bites, Chinese media say|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-huawei-chip-idUSKCN2540HA|access-date=8 August 2020}} HiSilicon was overtaken by Chinese rival UNISOC in terms of mobile processor market share as a consequence.{{cite web|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/China-tech/China-s-Tsinghua-Unigroup-axes-major-memory-chip-projects |title=China's Tsinghua Unigroup axes major memory chip projects - Nikkei Asia |publisher=Asia.nikkei.com |date=2022-01-26 |accessdate=2022-05-13}} However, at the end of 2023 the Kirin 9000S processor, which was first used in the Huawei Mate 60, showed that HiSilicon was restarting its production of Kirin chipsets after a three-year hiatus, this time with entirely domestically produced chips.{{Cite web |author1=Anton Shilov |date=2023-12-19 |title=Huawei's sanctions-evading Kirin 9000S processor tested: significantly behind its Kirin 9000 predecessor that used TSMC tech |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/chipsets/huaweis-sanctions-evading-kirin-9000s-tested-significantly-behind-kirin-9000-with-tsmc-tech |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Tom's Hardware |language=en}}

{{Main|Hygon Information Technology}}

Hygon Information Technology is a partially state-owned publicly listed Chinese fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Beijing. The company mainly handles central processing units (CPUs) based on Intel's x86 technology as well as domestic Deep Learning Processors.{{Cite web |last=Noriyuki |first=Doi |date=13 August 2022 |title=China chipmaker Hygon makes strong debut on Shanghai startup market |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Markets/China-chipmaker-Hygon-makes-strong-debut-on-Shanghai-startup-market |access-date=18 February 2024 |website=Nikkei Asia |language=en-GB}}

{{Main|Loongson Technology}}

Loongson Technology is a Chinese fabless company that develops a family of general-purpose, MIPS architecture-compatible microprocessors, mainly used in personal computers and supercomputers. The processors were favoured by the Chinese government in its “Made in China 2025” push, which was also directed against US semiconductor sanctions.

{{main|UNISOC}}

UNISOC is a Chinese fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Shanghai which produces chipsets for mobile phones. UNISOC develops its business in two major fields: consumer electronics, which includes smart phones, feature phones, smart audio systems, smart wear and other areas; Industrial electronics, on the other hand, covers such fields as LAN IoT, WAN IoT, or smart display.

In 2021, it was the fourth largest mobile processor manufacturer in the world, after Mediatek, Qualcomm and Apple, with 9% of global market share.

{{Main|Will Semiconductor}}

Will Semiconductor is a publicly listed Chinese fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Shanghai. In May 2019, it acquired OmniVision Technologies.{{Cite journal |last=Wu |first=Zongyu |date=2023-11-02 |title=Analysis of Will's Acquisition of Omnivision |url=https://drpress.org/ojs/index.php/HBEM/article/view/11977 |journal=Highlights in Business, Economics and Management |language=en |volume=19 |pages=416–423 |doi=10.54097/hbem.v19i.11977 |issn=2957-952X|doi-access=free }}

{{Main|Zhaoxin}}

Zhaoxin is a fabless semiconductor company, created in 2013 as a joint venture between VIA Technologies and the Shanghai Municipal Government.{{cite news |last1=Chan |first1=Leon |date=3 January 2018 |title=Via's Chinese Joint Venture Aims For Competitive Home-Grown X86 SOCs By 2019 |url=http://www.tomshardware.com/news/via-chinese-x86-soc-2019,36209.html |access-date=3 January 2018 |publisher=Hexus.net}} The company manufactures x86-compatible desktop and laptop CPUs.{{cite news |last1=Tyson |first1=Mark |date=2 January 2018 |title=VIA and Zhaoxin ZX- family of x86 processors roadmap shared |url=https://hexus.net/tech/news/cpu/113735-via-zhaoxin-zx-family-x86-processors-roadmap-shared/ |access-date=2 January 2018 |publisher=Hexus.net}} The term Zhào xīn means million core.In China 兆 can mean either short-scale million (1e6) or trillion (1e12). However, for IT-related topics 兆 always means mega/million in Mainland China. The processors are created mainly for the Chinese market: the venture is an attempt to reduce the Chinese dependence on foreign technology.{{cite news |last=Clark |first=Don |date=21 April 2016 |title=AMD to License Chip Technology to China Chip Venture |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/amd-to-license-chip-technology-to-china-chip-venture-1461269701 |access-date=24 April 2018 |publisher=Wall Street Journal |quote="The VIA/Shanghai Zhaoxin KX-5000 series of x86-compatible CPUs will never be sold outside of China to avoid an Intel lawsuit.","...will use the technology to develop chips for server systems to be sold only in China"}}{{cite news |last1=Wu |first1=Yimian |date=23 May 2018 |title=China Supports Local Semiconductor Firms By Adding Them To Government Procurement List |url=https://www.chinamoneynetwork.com/2018/05/23/china-supports-local-semiconductor-firms-by-adding-them-to-government-procurement-list |access-date=31 May 2018 |publisher=China Money Network}}

• Actions Semiconductor
• Alibaba Group (Yitian)
• Allwinner Technology
• Black Sesame Technologies
• Cambricon
• GigaDevice
• Horizon Robotics
• Iluvatar CoreX
• Ingenic Semiconductor
• Innoscience
• Jiangnan Computing Lab (Sunway)
• Maxscend Microelectronics
• Montage Technology
• Moore Threads
• Phytium Technology
• PNC Process Systems
• Rockchip
• Sanan Optoelectronics
• Tencent

{{Main|JCET (company)}}

JCET Group Co., Ltd. is a public company headquartered in Jiangyin on China's eastern coast.{{cite news | title=Changjiang Electronics Offers $780 Million for Stats ChipPack | newspaper=Bloomberg.com | date=November 6, 2014 | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-11-06/changjiang-electronics-offers-780-million-to-buy-stats-chippac | access-date=June 25, 2021}}{{cite web | last1=Carew | first1=Rick | last2=Venkat | first2=P.R. | title=Jiangsu Changjiang Makes $780 Million Offer for STATS ChipPAC | website=WSJ | date=November 6, 2014 | url=https://online.wsj.com/articles/jiangsu-changjiang-in-exclusive-talks-to-acquire-stats-chippac-1415259144 | access-date=June 23, 2021}} It is the largest Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) company in mainland China and the third-largest globally.{{cite book|volume=216|publisher=St. James Press|title=The International Directory of Company Histories Series|chapter=Jiangsu Changjiang Electronics Technology Co., Ltd.|isbn=978-1410382443|year=2020}} JCET was formed in 1972, when Jiangyin converted a local factory to produce transistors. JCET went public on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2003 and continued to grow over time. JCET provides a range of semiconductor packaging, assembly, manufacturing, and testing products and services.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

• Huatian Technology
• Tongfu Microelectronics

{{main|Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment}}

Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment is a partially state-owned publicly listed Chinese company that manufactures semiconductor chip production equipment. It is one of the largest semiconductor equipment manufacturer in China.{{Cite news |last=Landers |first=Peter |date=9 November 2022 |title=Entrepreneur Caught in the Middle of U.S.-China Chip War |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/entrepreneur-caught-in-the-middle-of-u-s-china-chip-war-11667989801 |access-date=24 February 2024 |work=WSJ |language=en-US}}

{{main|NAURA Technology Group}}

NAURA Technology Group is a partially state-owned publicly listed Chinese company that manufactures semiconductor chip production equipment. It is currently the largest semiconductor equipment manufacturer in China. {{Cite web |last=Hope |first=Arran |date=3 February 2023 |title=China's top 10 semiconductor firms |url=https://thechinaproject.com/2023/02/03/chinas-top-10-semiconductor-firms/ |access-date=17 February 2024 |website=The China Project |language=en-US}}

{{main|Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment}}

Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment (SMEE) is a semiconductor manufacturing equipment manufacturer based in Shanghai, supplying lithography (DUV immersion) equipment and other equipment used in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. Currently, its most advanced product is the SSA600, with a resolution of 90 nm. SMEE is developing the SSA800, with a resolution of 28 nm, which will be followed up by the SSA900, with a resolution of 22 nm.{{cite web|url=https://seekingalpha.com/article/4487484-asml-current-battleground-now-in-china-on-several-fronts |title=ASML's Current Battleground Now In China On Several Fronts (NASDAQ:ASML) |publisher=Seeking Alpha |date= 16 February 2022|accessdate=2022-05-13}} In December 2022, the United States Department of Commerce added SMEE to the Bureau of Industry and Security's Entity List.{{Cite news |last=Alper |first=Alexandra |date=2022-12-15 |title=Biden blacklists China's YMTC, crackdowns on AI chip sector |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/biden-blacklist-chinas-ymtc-crackdown-ai-chip-sector-2022-12-15/ |access-date=2022-12-15}}

{{main|China Electronics Technology Group Corporation}}

China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) is China's third largest electronics and IT company behind only Huawei and Lenovo. Its fields include communications equipment, computers, electronic equipment, IT infrastructure, networks, software development, research services, investment and asset management for civilian and military applications.{{cite web|title=Company Overview of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=25107944|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306110259/http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=25107944|archive-date=6 March 2016|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Allen-Ebrahimian|first=Bethany|date=June 24, 2020|title=Defense Department produces list of Chinese military-linked companies|work=Axios|url=https://www.axios.com/defense-department-chinese-military-linked-companies-856b9315-48d2-4aec-b932-97b8f29a4d40.html|url-status=live|access-date=June 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625220923/https://www.axios.com/defense-department-chinese-military-linked-companies-856b9315-48d2-4aec-b932-97b8f29a4d40.html|archive-date=June 25, 2020}}

The company also manufactures semiconductors and semiconductor equipment used in the semiconductor manufacturing industry, largely for military applications.{{cite web | url=http://en.cetczb.com/product/30/ | title=Manufacturing Equipments_Products_CETC ELECTRONICS EQUIPMENT GROUP CO., LTD._Electronic electrician }}

• ACM Research
• Beijing Huafeng Test & Control Technology
• China Resources Microelectronics
• Dongfang Jingyuan Electron
• Hangzhou Changchuan Technology
• Hwatsing Technology
• KINGSEMI
• Jingjia Micro
• Piotech
• Shanghai Wanye Enterprises
• SiCarrier
• Skyverse Technology
• Wuhan Jingce Electronic Group
• Zhejiang Jingsheng Mechanical & Electrical

Huawei is reportedly planning to build its own fabs, in cooperation with SMIC, in an attempt to promote vertical integration and reduce impacts of US sanctions such as the one it was subjected to during the China–United States trade war.[https://techtaiwan.com/20220104/huawei-foundry-speculation/ Huawei foundry speculation]techtaiwan.com {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129033058/https://techtaiwan.com/20220104/huawei-foundry-speculation/ |date=2022-01-29 }} In 2023, Huawei released its Mate60 Pro smartphone, which had a 7nm chip application processor HiSilicon Kirin 9000S manufactured by SMIC using SMIC's N+2 process node.{{Cite journal |last=Allen |first=Gregory |date=October 6, 2023 |title=In Chip Race, China Gives Huawei the Steering Wheel: Huawei's New Smartphone and the Future of Semiconductor Export Control |url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/chip-race-china-gives-huawei-steering-wheel-huaweis-new-smartphone-and-future |website=Center for Strategic and International Studies}} In 2025, Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei told Chinese president Xi Jinping at a meeting that "his previous concerns about the lack of domestic advanced semiconductor production and the damaging impacts of U.S. export controls had eased because of recent breakthroughs by Huawei and its partners."{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Gregory C. |date=March 7, 2025 |title=DeepSeek, Huawei, Export Controls, and the Future of the U.S.-China AI Race |url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/deepseek-huawei-export-controls-and-future-us-china-ai-race |website=Center for Strategic and International Studies}}

• Semiconductor industry
• Semiconductor industry in India
• Semiconductor industry in South Korea
• Semiconductor industry in Taiwan
• Economy of China
• Industry of China

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{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• {{Cite journal |last=VerWey |first=John |date=July 2019 |title=Chinese Semiconductor Industrial Policy: Past and Present. |url=https://www.usitc.gov/staff_publications/jice/chinese_semiconductor_industrial_policy_past_and |journal=Journal Of International Commerce And Economics (JICE) |publisher=U.S. International Trade Commission}}

Category:Semiconductor industry by country

Category:Electronics industry in China

Category:Semiconductor device fabrication