Nexperia China Shifts to Domestic 12-Inch Wafers for '100%' Independence
Nexperia's division in China has declared its transition to producing 12-inch silicon wafers for "100 percent domestic production" amidst an ongoing dispute with its European headquarters that has lasted a year. During a press conference on Sunday, the company disclosed plans to move products from its 6-inch and 8-inch production lines to a new 12-inch supply sourced from an undisclosed "Chinese strategic partner." This announcement comes after achieving a milestone in March with "small-volume production" of bipolar discrete devices. The change is intended to circumvent halted wafer shipments from Europe and highlights a growing trend of semiconductor localization in China driven by geopolitical issues. Nexperia China aims for independent operations, which could alter its global strategy and influence the semiconductor industry.
Key facts
- Nexperia's China unit announced plans to shift to domestic 12-inch silicon wafer production.
- The move aims for '100 per cent domestic production' amid a nearly one-year-long dispute with European headquarters.
- The announcement was made at a press conference themed 'based in China, serve the world' on Sunday.
- Nexperia China is transferring all products from 8-inch and 6-inch lines to a new 12-inch wafer supply from an unnamed 'Chinese strategic partner'.
- In March, the unit achieved 'small-volume production' of bipolar discrete devices.
- The broader product portfolio includes diodes, MOSFETs, and logic integrated circuits.
- Previously, wafers were produced in German and British plants and shipped to China, Malaysia, and the Philippines for assembly.
- China is responsible for about 70 per cent of Nexperia's global output.
Entities
Institutions
- Nexperia
Locations
- China
- Netherlands
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- Malaysia
- Philippines