(Yicai Global) March 9 -- Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation has not received any notification about the Netherlands’ government’s intention to restrict the export of some chip-printing machines, a source at the firm said.

SMIC is operating normally, the person in the Shanghai-based chipmaker’s investor relations department also told Yicai Global.

The Dutch government recently published updates about upcoming export restrictions on advanced chip manufacturing technology, including the most advanced deposition and immersion lithography tools.

“ASML interprets the ‘most advanced’ as ‘critical immersion’ which ASML defined in our Capital Markets Day as the Twinscan NXT:2000i and subsequent immersion systems,” Amsterdam-based ASML Holding, the world’s only maker of some of the lithography systems, said in a statement posted on its website yesterday.

Due to the impending new regulations, ASML will need to apply for export licenses for the shipment of the most advanced immersion deep ultraviolet systems. It will take time for these controls to be translated into legislation and take effect, the company added.

DUV lithography machines can be used to produce 7 nanometer and above process chips, covering most digital chips and almost all analog chips, Yicai Global learned.

With the evolution of advanced processes to 5 nm and below, extreme UV has become the core of future lithography technology and advanced processes. EUV is mainly used in manufacturing 7 nm and below advanced chips, with ASML the only supplier.

Editor: Peter Thomas