Korean Media: Semiconductor Equipment Domesticization Rate Surpasses 35% in One Year, Up by 10 Percentage Points!
On February 6, the South Korean media "Global Economy" published an article stating that China's semiconductor equipment domesticization rate exceeded expectations. In 2025, China's self-sufficiency rate for semiconductor manufacturing equipment increased by 10 percentage points from 25% to 35%, exceeding the target set by China of 30%. Especially in key process areas such as etching and film deposition, the adoption rate of domestic equipment has already exceeded 40%, rapidly reducing reliance on large U.S. companies.
At the beginning of 2025, the Chinese semiconductor industry set a target of 30%, requiring priority use of local suppliers rather than U.S. competitors such as Applied Materials, Lam Research, and KLA. However, the actual result was 35%, exceeding the target by 5 percentage points.
The technological progress of Chinese equipment companies is reflected in specific achievements. The 5-nanometer etching equipment developed by Zhongwei Semiconductor has entered the verification stage in the advanced process lines of semiconductor manufacturing companies. The oxidation and diffusion furnace produced by Beijing Unimicron Technology occupies more than 60% in the 28-nanometer production line of China's largest foundry, SMIC. The order backlog of Beijing Unimicron Technology has been scheduled up to the first quarter of 2027.
Tuo Jing Technology has increased the proportion of its plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) equipment in the 3D NAND production line of Yangtze Memory Technologies from 15% to 30%. Industry insiders believe that this move is a result of Chinese companies' efforts to build their own supply chain in response to the export restrictions imposed by the United States on Chinese semiconductor equipment in 2022.
China is vigorously promoting the localization of semiconductor equipment. The China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund III has made an investment of 344 billion yuan, a record high, with the main goal being R&D of core components of etching equipment and exposure systems.
The global semiconductor industry association SEMI predicts that, driven by continuous investments in traditional and advanced manufacturing processes, China will continue to maintain its position as the world's largest semiconductor equipment market until 2027. Analysts predict that the rapid development of domestic equipment in China will have long-term impacts on exports of semiconductor equipment from major manufacturers in South Korea, the United States, and Japan to China.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856361799954632/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.