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三星2nm良率最高20%，从德克萨斯州泰勒工厂撤出人员
https://www.trendforce.com/news/2024/09/12/news-samsungs-2nm-yield-rate-at-most-20-withdraws-personnel-from-texas-taylor-plant/
2024-09-12 半导体编辑
虽然据说三星电子将削减高达30%的海外员工，但韩国媒体Business Korea 9月11日的一篇报道补充说，2nm良率的持续问题已导致三星决定从其位于德克萨斯州泰勒的工厂撤出人员，这标志着其先进晶圆代工业务再次遭遇挫折。
泰勒工厂最初被设想为4nm以下先进工艺的量产中心，其战略位置靠近主要科技公司，旨在吸引美国客户。然而，尽管发展迅速，三星仍面临2nm良率问题，导致性能和产能不及主要竞争对手台积电。
据悉，三星晶圆代工良率低于50%，尤其是在3nm以下工艺，而台积电先进工艺良率约为60-70%。这一差距扩大了两家公司的市场份额差距。
据TrendForce报告，台积电第二季度在全球晶圆代工市场的份额为62.3%，而三星的市场份额仅为11.5%。
Business Korea援引业内人士的话说，三星的Gate-All-Around (GAA)良率约为10-20%，不足以处理订单和量产。这样的良率迫使三星重新考虑其战略，并从泰勒工厂撤出人员，只留下极少量员工。
三星电子已签署初步协议，将获得美国芯片法案高达 9 万亿韩元的补贴。但获得这笔资金的关键条件是工厂必须顺利运营，而三星目前的困境使这项协议面临风险。
据报道，三星董事长李在镕亲自拜访了 ASML 和蔡司等主要设备供应商，希望在工艺和产量改进方面取得突破。但目前尚未取得重大成果，人员何时可能被重新分配回泰勒工厂仍不确定。
Samsung's 2nm Yield Rate at Most 20%, Withdraws Personnel from Texas Taylor Plant
While Samsung Electronics is said to be delivering an oversea workforce cut up to 30%, a report from Korean media outlet Business Korea on September 11th has added that persistent issues with its 2nm yield rate have led Samsung to decide to withdraw personnel from its Taylor, Texas plant, signaling another setback for its advanced wafer foundry business.
Originally envisioned as a mass production hub for advanced processes below 4nm, the Taylor facility’s strategic location near major tech companies was intended to attract U.S. clients. However, despite rapid development, Samsung continues to face 2nm yield issues, resulting in performance and production capacity falling short of its main competitor, TSMC.
Reportedly, Samsung’s wafer foundry yield is below 50%, particularly in processes below 3nm, while TSMC’s advanced process yield is around 60-70%. This gap has widened the market share difference between the two companies.
As per a report from TrendForce, TSMC held a 62.3% share of the global wafer foundry market in the second quarter, while Samsung’s market share was only 11.5%.
Industry sources cited by Business Korea further added that Samsung’s Gate-All-Around (GAA) yield is around 10-20%, which is insufficient for handling orders and mass production. Such yields have forced Samsung to reconsider its strategy and withdraw personnel from the Taylor plant, leaving only a minimal number of staff.
Samsung Electronics had signed a preliminary agreement to receive up to KRW 9 trillion in subsidies from the U.S. Chips Act. However, a key condition for receiving the funding is that the plant must operate smoothly, and Samsung’s current difficulties put this agreement at risk.
Reportedly, Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-Yong personally visited major equipment suppliers like ASML and Zeiss, hoping to achieve breakthroughs in process and yield improvements. However, there have been no significant results so far, and it remains uncertain when personnel might be reassigned back to the Taylor plant.
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