The semiconductor supply chain reminds us again that an advanced chip not only depends on EUV, HBM, 3D packaging, or cutting-edge fabs. It also relies on much less visible materials that are nevertheless critical to ensure each wafer arrives clean to the next process step. The latest warning comes from South Korea: high-purity CO₂ used in supercritical cleaning processes is beginning to run low.
The alert primarily affects the country’s leading memory manufacturers. According to industry reports from Korea, Samsung Electronics uses roughly 1,800–2,000 tons of high-purity CO₂ monthly, while SK hynix consumes about 600–700 tons per month. Production disruptions have not been announced yet, but reserves are reportedly shrinking below the usual one-month cushion.
The problem doesn’t originate inside the chip factories. It starts much earlier, in refineries, petrochemical plants, and hydrogen production facilities. Industrial CO₂ used as a raw material is largely a byproduct of these processes. If the utilization of these plants decreases, the volume of CO₂ available for purification and supply also diminishes. In an industry working with tightly controlled inventories, this difference can quickly turn into an operational risk.
Why does a chip need high-purity CO₂?
In semiconductor manufacturing, cleaning a wafer isn’t just about removing dust. As nodes shrink, patterns become narrower, taller, and more fragile. Residues from previous processes can become trapped in tiny structures, and aggressive cleaning might damage the newly fabricated features. That’s why the industry increasingly uses specialized techniques.
Supercritical CO₂ cleaning leverages a specific physical property. When CO₂ exceeds its critical temperature and pressure, it enters a state where it no longer behaves like a conventional gas or liquid. It has enough density to dissolve residues but retains a gas-like penetrative ability. This allows it to access fine patterns and remove contaminants without creating the high surface tension typical of liquid processes.
This is crucial. In advanced structures, improper drying or cleaning can cause pattern collapse, unwanted adhesion, contamination, or performance loss. In memory and logic wafers, where multiple layers and process steps accumulate, even a small defect can lead to yield loss.
| Element | Role in the process |
|---|---|
| High-purity CO₂ | Supercritical cleaning medium |
| Controlled high pressure and temperature | Allow reaching the supercritical state |
| Low surface tension | Facilitates penetration into fine structures without pattern damage |
| High purity | Minimizes contamination risk on wafers |
| Advanced cleaning | Removes residues in DRAM, NAND, and advanced logic processes |
Purity is as vital as supply. Industry cannot simply substitute semiconductor-grade CO₂ with standard industrial CO₂. Any impurities can introduce defects on the wafer, and at advanced nodes, such defects are costly. Therefore, it’s not just about “buying more CO₂”: ensuring proper feedstock, purification capacity, transportation, storage, and quality control is essential.
The hidden dependence on refineries and petrochemical plants
The current shortage reveals an uncomfortable dependency. While chip manufacturers are often regarded as the most advanced players in the digital economy, a significant portion of their critical materials stems from traditional industries like refining, petrochemicals, and industrial gas production. When these plants reduce throughput, the impact can extend to cleanrooms elsewhere in the supply chain.
The Korean sector points to a decline in CO₂ generation from feedstocks caused by lower refinery and petrochemical utilization, amidst tense energy and oil markets. The industrial paradox is that, even if Samsung and SK Hynix are willing to pay more, providers can’t immediately increase volume if raw materials are scarce.
Liquid CO₂ prices have reportedly increased by about 20% since the start of the year, and industry sources expect this tension may persist until year-end. Domestic suppliers like Taekyung Chemical, Sundo Chemical, Dongkwang Chemical, and SK Air Plus are involved, with Taekyung being one of the key players in the Korean market.
| Pressure Factor | Impact on semiconductors |
|---|---|
| Reduced refinery activity | Less CO₂ available as a byproduct |
| Lower utilization of petrochemical plants | Decreased feedstock for purification |
| Higher energy and logistics costs | Increase in liquefied CO₂ prices |
| Inventories below one month | Less buffer to handle disruptions |
| Inability to ramp up production quickly | Prolonged supply risks |
This situation echoes past crises involving helium, anhydrous hydrofluoric acid, PGMEA, and other specialized chemicals, highlighting that chip manufacturing is not only about transistors. It requires coordinating dozens of materials, gases, chemicals, components, and services with very tight tolerances.
Samsung and SK Hynix haven’t stopped yet, but margins are shrinking
Currently, there are no signs of production halts in Samsung or SK Hynix. That’s important to avoid alarmism. We’re not facing factory shutdowns but rather a warning: a key material used in advanced processes is becoming scarce, and the safety margin is narrowing.
In semiconductor factories, inventories are typically limited. Stockpiling large amounts of high-purity gases and chemicals is costly and requires specific conditions. The usual approach is to work with contracts, approved suppliers, reliable logistics, and some safety margin. When that margin drops below normal and suppliers can’t scale up volumes, price negotiations alone can’t resolve the issue.
This is happening amid exceptional demand for memory. SK Hynix has benefited from the AI-driven surge in HBM to the point of surpassing Samsung as South Korea’s most valuable publicly traded company in June 2026. Samsung, meanwhile, is reinforcing its position in advanced memory and foundry markets. Maintaining production continuity is vital for both.
A bottleneck for high-purity CO₂ doesn’t affect all processes equally but impacts a critical stage of advanced nodes. Finer chip structures are harder to clean without damage. And more expensive wafers mean any performance loss has greater impact.
The emerging fragility of the most advanced industry
The CO₂ case underscores a clear conclusion: the semiconductor supply chain is more physical than often assumed. While AI, data centers, and HBM memory are often depicted as a race of design, lithography, and capacity, underlying this are networks of gases, solvents, metals, energy, transportation, ultrapure water, pumps, valves, filters, and highly specialized materials.
Failing a small component can jeopardize the entire system’s margin.
The industry has long discussed resilience, diversification, and supply security. Usually, this conversation focuses on final chips, manufacturing facilities, EUV equipment, or geopolitical restrictions. But risks also lie in subproducts from industries that seem unrelated to tech. High-purity CO₂ is a prime example: it starts in refining and petrochemical streams, is purified for critical uses, and ends up essential for manufacturing advanced memory and logic.
For South Korea, this warning is particularly severe because Samsung and SK Hynix account for a significant share of global memory production. If the situation persists, manufacturers will need to strengthen contracts, diversify suppliers, secure feedstock sources, and possibly revisit their strategic inventory levels for critical gases and chemicals.
AI has transformed advanced memory into a geopolitical asset. Now the market recognizes that memory also depends on a less glamorous but equally vital supply chain of materials. High-purity CO₂ doesn’t show up in major accelerator presentations, but without precise cleaning, wafers cannot be perfect. And without perfect wafers, there are no cutting-edge chips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there a shortage of high-purity CO₂ for semiconductors?
Because the availability of process CO₂ from refineries, petrochemical plants, and hydrogen facilities has decreased. Without this raw material, suppliers cannot quickly increase supply.
What is CO₂ used for in chip manufacturing?
It is used in supercritical cleaning to remove residues and contaminants from advanced wafers without damaging very fine patterns.
Have Samsung and SK Hynix stopped production?
No signs of production halts so far. The alert focuses on reduced inventories and difficulty securing additional volume.
How much CO₂ do Samsung and SK Hynix consume?
Korean industry sources estimate Samsung’s usage at about 1,800–2,000 tons per month and SK Hynix’s at 600–700 tons monthly.
Can this issue drive up memory prices?
On its own, it doesn’t determine prices, but it adds pressure to an already tight supply chain driven by AI, HBM, critical materials, and advanced capacity constraints.
via: thelec.kr
