![\"Cleanroom-suited](\"https:\/\/zkmsemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/wafer_suit.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe recent claim that China’s semiconductor equipment localization rate has reached about thirty-five percent is drawing widespread attention. The figure reflects both the rapid progress of domestic equipment in recent years and the need for a calm, rational reading. Industry experts stress that, when discussing the localization rate, one must first clarify the statistical basis: whether it is the purchase-based localization rate, calculated on that year’s newly purchased equipment, or the installed-base localization rate, calculated on the equipment already running on production lines. The two meanings differ greatly and must not be conflated.<\/p>\n
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The purchase-based figure reflects increments: the share of domestic tools among the equipment a new fab buys in a given year. Because recent new lines are concentrated in segments where domestic tools are well accepted, and because supply-chain autonomy encourages new purchases to favor domestic equipment, the purchase-based localization rate is rising quickly. The installed-base figure reflects the stock: the share of domestic equipment among all tools accumulated on lines over the years. Because early fabs largely adopted imported tools, the installed-base rate is markedly lower than the purchase-based rate. The gap between the two is significant, and readers must distinguish them clearly.<\/p>\n
Once the basis is clarified, the meaning of the “35%” becomes clear: it reflects the rising competitiveness of domestic equipment in new purchases, rather than the completion of domestic substitution across the installed base. Reading the figure rationally means seeing both the substantial progress of domestic equipment and the long road ahead for stock replacement. This clear-eyed understanding helps the industry set a more pragmatic and executable localization path, avoiding blind optimism or pessimism.<\/p>\n
Whichever basis is used, the broad trend of a rising localization rate is clear, and domestic tools in supporting steps such as cleaning, spin-drying and inspection keep expanding their applications within that trend. Hebei Zhongke Microelectronics Co., Ltd., based in Fuxing District, Handan City, Hebei Province, offers fully automatic single-wafer cleaning machines, single-wafer cleaning & spin dryers, EFEM cleaning & drying systems and wafer inspection lamps, aligning with the long-term trend of rising domestic equipment penetration and providing a cost-effective domestic choice for new purchases and installed-base renewal alike.<\/p>\n
The debate over whether China’s semiconductor equipment localization rate is thirty-five percent, higher or lower often comes down to how the question is asked. Different research firms use different definitions: some count the value of equipment bought in a given year, others count the number of tools installed on the floor; some look only at front-end wafer fabrication, others include back-end packaging and test. Each definition yields a different number, and comparing them as if they were the same produces confusion. A purchase-based rate naturally rises faster, because new fabs are deliberately equipped with more domestic tools, while an installed-base rate rises slowly because it reflects equipment bought over many years, including an early era when imports dominated.<\/p>\n
Understanding this distinction changes how one should react to the headline. A rising purchase-based rate is genuinely encouraging: it means that when fabs buy new equipment, domestic options are winning a growing share. It proves that domestic tools have reached a level of performance and service that customers are willing to adopt for new production. At the same time, a lower installed-base rate is equally real: the great majority of tools already running on Chinese fab floors are still imported, and replacing them would take years of natural equipment refresh. Neither number is wrong; they measure different things, and both are needed to form a complete picture of where domestic substitution stands.<\/p>\n
For the industry, the practical takeaway is to set expectations and strategy based on the right basis. New-purchase growth should be celebrated and sustained by continuing to qualify domestic tools for more process steps, while installed-base renewal should be approached as a long-term program of equipment modernization and upgrade. Supporting segments like cleaning, drying and inspection sit squarely in both flows: they are bought for every new fab, and they are also candidates for replacement as older lines refresh. By clarifying the statistical basis, policymakers, investors and fab operators can make more accurate decisions, and domestic suppliers can target their efforts where the evidence shows real and growing demand for local equipment.<\/p>\n
Clarifying the statistical basis of the localization rate ultimately leads to a more disciplined approach to domestic substitution. For new purchases, the priority is to keep raising the domestic share by continuing to qualify domestic tools for more process steps on fresh lines. For the installed base, the priority is a long-term program of equipment modernization and natural replacement, gradually shifting the stock toward domestic options over time. Pursuing both simultaneously is the most credible way to raise the localization rate in a genuine, sustainable manner. Supporting segments such as cleaning, drying and inspection participate in both flows, since they are purchased for every new fab and are natural candidates for renewal on older lines. A clear understanding of the numbers, in the end, leads to better decisions and a more realistic view of the industry’s progress.<\/p>\n
Finally, clarifying the statistical basis helps investors and policy-makers avoid misallocation. If one confuses the fast-rising purchase-based rate with the slower installed-base rate, one may overestimate how quickly imported tools will be replaced and mis-time capacity investments. Conversely, focusing only on the installed-base rate may underestimate the momentum behind new purchases. A clear-eyed view of both numbers allows the industry to set realistic expectations and channel resources where they matter most. For domestic supporting equipment vendors, this clarity is helpful: it focuses attention on the genuine growth opportunities in new fab purchases and planned equipment renewal, rather than on headline figures that may be misleading.<\/p>\n
With both new-purchase and installed-base channels trending upward, domestic supporting equipment suppliers are expected to see sustained demand as the localization rate continues its steady climb over the coming years.<\/p>\n
For inquiries on domestic wafer cleaning and drying inspection equipment and services, please contact the industry hotline: 17177768881.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The claim that China’s semiconductor equipment localization rate has reached about thirty-five percent is drawing wide attention. While it reflects rapid progress, analysts stress that purchase-based and installed-base statistical bases differ greatly and should not be conflated, as the distinction is essential for setting realistic domestic substitution strategy and avoiding the costly misallocation of investment in equipment capacity. Clarifying these statistical bases helps the industry set realistic expectations and channel investment toward the genuine growth opportunities in domestic supporting equipment demand.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_zk_news_lang":"en","_zk_news_en_title":"","_zk_news_en_content":"","_zk_news_en_excerpt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-xingye-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zkmsemi.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zkmsemi.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zkmsemi.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zkmsemi.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zkmsemi.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=482"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/zkmsemi.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zkmsemi.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zkmsemi.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=482"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zkmsemi.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}