TechFlow News, June 28: Jukan, an analyst at Citrini, posted on X warning of supply concerns regarding high-purity carbon dioxide (CO₂) used in advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes. The issue stems from reduced operating rates at oil refineries and petrochemical plants, leading to a sharp decline in CO₂ output—the raw material for high-purity CO₂. Semiconductor manufacturers and their suppliers typically maintain about two weeks’ inventory each, totaling roughly one month’s supply. However, industry sources recently indicated that combined inventories have fallen below this one-month threshold.
According to industry data, Samsung Electronics consumes approximately 1,800–2,000 tons of high-purity CO₂ per month, while SK Hynix consumes around 600–700 tons monthly. Although neither company has yet experienced production disruptions, inventory levels are continuously tightening, prompting accelerated procurement efforts—even at higher prices—though securing additional volume remains challenging. A gas industry insider noted that without raw material input, fulfilling customer orders is physically impossible, and output cannot be increased in the short term.
High-purity CO₂ is widely used in supercritical semiconductor cleaning processes. The raw CO₂ is a byproduct of oil refining, petrochemical production, and hydrogen generation. Instability in global crude oil supply and demand—driven by geopolitical developments in the U.S., Iran, and the Middle East—and the resulting drop in domestic petrochemical plant utilization rates are viewed as primary drivers behind the CO₂ raw material shortage. Liquid CO₂ prices have reportedly risen about 20% since the beginning of the year, and industry observers expect tight supply conditions to persist through year-end. Key domestic suppliers of high-purity CO₂ cited in the report include Taekyung Chemical, Sundo Chemical, Dongkwang Chemical, and SK Air Plus—with Taekyung Chemical regarded as the market leader.
