TSMC, SMIC, and other semiconductor manufacturers respond to the impact of overseas helium supply shortages.

Recently, helium production in some overseas regions has stalled or been subject to export controls, attracting market attention to the potential impact on semiconductor production. Some semiconductor manufacturers have responded to the tightening of overseas helium supply. In the field of wafer foundry, management of TSMC stated at an earnings conference on April 16th that due to factors such as the Middle East situation, the prices of certain chemicals and gases may rise, which could affect the company's profitability. However, it is currently too early to quantify the impact. When a journalist called the securities department of SMIC as an investor, the staff stated that the company has multiple channels for helium supply and that the current supply is normal. In the area of memory chips, regarding the impact of the Middle East conflict on helium supply, a Samsung Electronics representative told journalists that Samsung has been advancing supply chain diversification and has ensured sufficient inventory, expecting minimal short-term impact. SK Hynix responded to journalists saying they could not comment on current conflict-related matters. A semiconductor industry insider told journalists that the overall raw material supply for the domestic semiconductor manufacturing company is currently stable, attributing it to advance contingency plans for tight helium supply and multiple pathways and alternative supply options for electronic specialty gases. Another industry source mentioned that factories located in regions heavily reliant on imported raw materials may be more affected by fluctuations in helium supply from the Middle East, while efforts have been made in recent years in China to promote domestic production of gases and other semiconductor upstream raw materials.