Source: Global Times
"The position of Chinese chip manufacturing equipment suppliers in the global market has significantly improved," reported Nikkei Asia on January 31. Under the pressure of U.S. export control measures, China's semiconductor industry is accelerating to make up for supply chain shortages. The report cited institutional data indicating that by 2025, three Chinese companies—NAURA, Changxin Technology, and Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment—will rank among the top 20 global semiconductor equipment suppliers. However, before the U.S. tightened its restrictions on China in 2022, only one Chinese company appeared on this list.
This ranking was compiled by the Japanese research institution Global Net, based on sales data from global semiconductor equipment companies in 2022 and 2025. In terms of sales volume, NAURA rose from 8th place in 2022 to 5th place in 2025, following ASML, Applied Materials, Lam Research, and Tokyo Electron. Changxin Technology, a new entrant to the 2025 global top 20 list, ranks 13th, while Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment ranks 20th. According to the report, if the list is expanded to the global top 30, two more Chinese companies—Semiconductor Manufacturing International (SMIC) and Huahai Qingke—would be added.
The Nikkei Asia Review analyzed that China's strong push for self-reliance in the semiconductor industry has led to a surge in the number of equipment manufacturing companies, with increasing new entrants. U.S. export restrictions have accelerated this trend, objectively promoting the localization of Chinese chip and semiconductor equipment.
The report mentioned that advanced semiconductor equipment production involves thousands of processes, each requiring specialized equipment. A senior executive of a trading company supplying components to Chinese manufacturers said, "Chinese companies can now cover all process links, including deposition, etching, and cleaning." Takao Omori, a senior analyst at Techno Systems Research in Japan, stated, "The localization rate of Chinese semiconductor equipment has reached 20%–30%, which is a rapid growth compared to about 10% three years ago."
"In the short term, companies from Japan, the U.S., and Europe will face more intense competition in the Chinese market." According to data from the Semiconductor Industry Association (SEMI), China's chip manufacturing equipment sales revenue increased by 35% year-on-year in 2024, reaching $49.5 billion, making it the largest market. In the long term, as China's supply chain continues to improve, the technological leadership of Western and Japanese companies will be challenged.
Xiang Liguang, chairman of the Zhongguancun Information Consumption Alliance, told the Global Times in an interview on February 1 that China's semiconductor industry is currently in a golden development period driven by policies, the market, technology, and capital. The explosive growth of emerging scenarios such as AI computing power construction, new energy vehicles, data centers, and industrial internet has further improved the entire industry chain of China's semiconductor sector. With favorable factors such as financial support and a talent dividend, it will further accelerate the localization of China's semiconductor industry. (Reporter: Ni Hao)
Original: toutiao.com/article/7602072990423892523/
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