Naphtha shortage threatens Asia's photoresist supply for chipmaking

A naphtha crunch, triggered by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz since early March, is disrupting the supply of photoresist—a critical material for semiconductor production. Naphtha, a feedstock derived from crude oil or natural gas, is essential for manufacturing specialty chemicals used in advanced chips for AI and automotive systems. Japanese photoresist suppliers have warned South Korea's Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix of looming raw material procurement disruptions, as reported by TheElec. The shortage is expected to hit advanced nodes using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography hardest due to their sensitivity. Both companies did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday. The crisis exposes fresh vulnerabilities in Asia's semiconductor supply chain, with geopolitical conflict in the Middle East sending shockwaves through the industry.