Focusing on the data from digitimes, SMIC's technology strategy is to invest in R & D of advanced manufacturing processes and introduce mass production as early as possible. From a technical blueprint, the 14-nanometer FinFET process is scheduled to be mass-produced in the second half of 2019.
SMIC's 28nm process started mass production as early as the third quarter of 2015 and contributed revenue. Its share of revenue also climbed from 0.1% in Q3 2015 to 8.8% in Q3 2017, mainly due to the PolySiON process, Customers are also limited to Qualcomm.
Due to the poor yield, HKMG process contributed very little to SMIC revenue.
SMIC plans to launch the 28nm HKC + platform in the second half of 2018.
In the first half of 2020, TSMC planned a 5-nanometer FinFET process for mass production of ultra-violet (EUV) process. By then, the gap between TSMC and SMIC will widen to 3 generations.
As of the end of 2017, although Huali Microelectronics still focuses on the 55nm process, its share of revenue from the 40nm process climbed from 7% in 2015 to 25% in 2017.
The next generation of 28-nanometer PolySiON process is expected to be introduced into production in the second half of 2018.
When the fourth quarter of 2019 core 22-nanometer FD-SOI process into mass production is expected SMIC and Huali micro-28-nanometer manufacturing process OEM prices have a negative impact.