YMTC's memory chips appeared in a solid-state drive (SSD) quietly launched in July 2023. It shows that the manufacturer continues to develop advanced technology despite the US embargo.
Previously, TechInsights also “dissected” the Huawei Mate 60 Pro smartphone and found the Kirin 9000s 5G chip, which is believed to be a product of Chinese chip foundry SMIC. This powerful chip surprised many industry analysts, especially when the US imposed strict restrictions.
In its report, TechInsights said that the Kirin 9000s (made on SMIC's 7nm (N+2) process) and YMTC's memory chips are evidence that China has been more successful than expected in overcoming trade sanctions to build a domestic semiconductor supply chain.
3D NAND memory chips are critical for high-performance computing in applications such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. YMTC and 21 other major Chinese chip players were added to the US Commerce Department's Entity List in December 2022 amid escalating US-China trade and geopolitical tensions.
At the time, YMTC was on track to challenge memory chip giants like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology with its 232-layer X3-9070 flash chip. However, the prospects for mass production of the chip were stalled after US equipment suppliers KLA and Lam Research stopped selling and servicing YMTC. However, it seems that the recent downturn in the memory chip market and the industry’s focus on cost-cutting measures have given YMTC an opportunity to continue to deliver more advanced chips, according to TechInsights.
YMTC’s latest advancement in memory chips was first reported in April when unnamed sources told SMCP that the foundry was stepping up its efforts to partner with Chinese suppliers to support advanced chip production. It is based on YMTC’s Xtacking 3.0 architecture, which the sources said was part of a top-secret project codenamed Wudangshan.
The project was intended to use only Chinese equipment, with YMTC placing large orders from domestic suppliers, including Naura Technology, according to sources. But analysts at the time found many bottlenecks in China’s chipmaking supply chain, including a lack of viable alternative chipmaking tools. ASML of the Netherlands has a near-monopoly on the production of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems in the world.
Last week, Bloomberg reported that SMIC uses “custom” ASML equipment, including a lithography machine with immersion lithography (DUV) technology, to produce advanced chips in Huawei smartphones. The DUV-based manufacturing process is said to be more expensive than EUV, which ASML has been banned from selling to China since 2019.
From January 2024, the company is also banned from selling DUV 2000-series printers to China under the latest Dutch regulations.
Despite recent chip breakthroughs in China, some experts say domestic companies are still several years behind in producing the lithography systems needed to make real progress.
(According to SCMP)
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