The US has drained TSMC, and NVIDIA's most powerful chip is now made in the US. But don't get too excited yet, as TSMC's US factory is facing a shutdown due to a lack of rare earth elements!
These days, NVIDIA's most powerful AI chip has been manufactured in the US. After draining TSMC, TSMC's US factory has officially started operations. By 2028, when TSMC's packaging and testing plant also starts operating, the US will establish a high-end chip industry chain that integrates design, manufacturing, and packaging and testing.
Although it sounds great, the US has once again achieved a "full-chain domestic" for high-end chips, but the core links all rely on TSMC. The US itself does not have the manufacturing capability for 4nm advanced process technology, nor does it have corresponding packaging and testing technology. The so-called "Made in the USA" is essentially "USA design + TSMC's US factory production." If it were not for TSMC and Samsung willingly being drained by the US, the US would not have been able to achieve such accomplishments so quickly.
However, the US is getting too excited too soon. TSMC has issued a warning that the rare earths in its US factory are only enough to last for 30 days. If there are no more rare earths, then TSMC's US factory will collapse. It should be noted that the precision drive system of EUV lithography machines requires neodymium and dysprosium-containing neodymium-iron-boron magnets, which consume 2.3 kilograms per machine and need to be replaced every 72 hours.
Previously, Taiwan imported 96.1% of its rare earths from the mainland, totaling about 7,000 tons, and TSMC alone consumed nearly 6,000 tons, accounting for 80% of the island's total demand.
So what about Trump's claim that there will be an abundance of rare earths in one year? It turns out that a single US factory can produce 2 kg of 99.9% pure dysprosium oxide per week.
This is only enough to fool ordinary people. 99.9% purity belongs to 3N-grade rare earths, which cannot be used for high-tech industries and high-end weapons manufacturing. 3N-grade dysprosium oxide can be bought on Chinese e-commerce platforms for just 3 yuan per gram. China has already been able to mass-produce 6N-grade rare earths (99.9999%).
With current US technology, it would take at least 15 years or more to break through China's rare earth control. By that time, the equipment in TSMC's US factory would have rusted away.
Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1846789136315593/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.