AMD, Intel and TSMC reportedly block chip sales to Russia

The move represents a potentially significant threat to a country with limited domestic production capacity

Pro

Image: Shutterstock via Dennis

Major chip vendors have reportedly halted chip sales to Russia following its invasion of Ukraine last week, representing a potentially significant threat to a country with limited domestic production capacity.

TSMC, which is the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer, told Russian companies on Friday that it would suspend sales due to sanctions, according to reports. The move is likely to choke off chip supplies to Russian organisations such as Baikal Electronics and STC Module.

Reports suggested that the loss of Elbrus, a Russia-designed TSMC chip used in Russian military computing applications, would be a big loss for the country.

Intel and AMD have both suspended chip sales to Russia, with RBC reporting that its own sources had confirmed the news on Sunday.

The US announced semiconductor sanctions against Russia last week following its attack on Ukraine. The sanctions cut off exports of US semiconductors, telecommunication, encryption security, lasers, sensors, navigation, avionics and maritime technologies. It also called upon other countries to adopt similar restrictions.

These export controls were part of a broader campaign of sanctions against Russia that severed some of its banks from the international SWIFT payments network and personally targeted key Russian figures.

Intel and TSMC both sent statements to the media explaining that they will comply with export controls.

The Semiconductor Industry Association, which represents semiconductor manufacturers in the US, issued a statement supporting the sanctions.

“The US semiconductor industry is fully committed to complying with the new export control rules announced today in response to the deeply disturbing events unfolding in Ukraine,” it said, adding that it did not feel the sanctions would affect its members sales significantly. Russia accounts for less than 0.1% of global chip purchases.

“The semiconductor industry has a diverse set of suppliers of key materials and gases, so we do not believe there are immediate supply disruption risks related to Russia and Ukraine,” it added.

Ⓒ Future Publishing

Read More: AMD Chips Intel Russia TSMC