Do China’s export curbs on tungsten threaten Japan’s AI chip supply chain?
China's recent export restrictions on tungsten are creating significant supply chain vulnerabilities for Japan's AI chip manufacturing sector. Tungsten hexafluoride, a crucial component for advanced semiconductor connections, has seen its price more than double year-on-year due to these constraints and increased chip demand. Major Japanese producers like Showa Denko Kanto and Central Glass are facing production suspensions as inventories deplete, potentially disrupting supply to key manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics and DB HiTek. AI
IMPACT China's export curbs on tungsten could disrupt the production of advanced AI chips, potentially slowing down AI development and deployment.