Down about 52% YoY
The Korea Customs Service announced on Aug. 9 that South Korea’s semiconductor equipment exports to China totaled US$694.8 million in the first half of this year, down 51.89 percent from a year ago.
China is the most important market for South Korean semiconductor equipment exporters, which has accounted for 60 percent of their exports. The equipment goes to the memory chip plants of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix in China. In addition, it is said that Chinese companies such as YMTC, CXMT and SMIC are considering purchasing their equipment against restrictions from the United States.
The drop in exports is because semiconductor investment in China decreased due to the ongoing U.S.-China rivalry. “The exports may be affected a lot after South Korea joins the U.S.-led Chip 4 semiconductor alliance,” an industry source said, adding that the Chinese government may block the export to the memory chip plants and reduce the use of equipment from South Korea by accelerating domestic development and production.