The semiconductor industry is still feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and now another one has been added to the uncertainty factors, the first reports of which appeared in the middle of the month.
The Russian special operation in Ukraine, which began on February 24, raised a question for industry participants: how can this step and subsequent political and economic sanctions against Russia affect the semiconductor industry? According to the source, the impact will be negligible.
"The semiconductor industry has a wide range of suppliers of basic materials and gases, so we do not believe that there are immediate risks of supply disruptions associated with Russia and Ukraine," said John Neuffer, executive director and president of the Semiconductor Industry Association.
This opinion was supported by Intel. Its representative told Bloomberg that the company does not expect "(...) any impact on the supply chain. Our strategy of creating a diverse global supply chain minimizes the risk of potential local disruptions."
Ukraine is the world's largest exporter of neon, a noble gas needed for several stages of semiconductor production. Companies such as ASML and Micron are among the largest buyers of Ukrainian neon; but they have announced that their accumulated neon stocks and alternative sources of supply exclude any serious impact that could be caused by damage to Ukraine's production and logistics capabilities.
