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According to reports, the growth rate of the chip industry in mainland China has now exceeded that of any country and region in the world. Per the latest released information, in the past year, 19 of the 20 fastest-growing chip companies came from China. 

(Global TMT, June 21, 2022) China's chip industry is growing faster than anywhere else in the world, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.In the past four quarters, 19 of the world's 20 fastest-growing chip industry companies were from mainland China. That compares with just eight in the same period last year. From a growth rate perspective, these Chinese suppliers of design software, processors and equipment that are critical to chip manufacturing are several times larger than large semiconductor companies such as TSMC or ASML. 

 Phelix Lee, an analyst at consulting firm Morningstar, said, "The biggest potential trend is that mainland China seeks self-sufficiency in supply chains driven by epidemic control. In 2021, mainland China imported chipsets worth up to $410 billion. Chip equipment makers from overseas suppliers rose 58% last year as mainland China continued to expand capacity, which in turn boosted local business. "There is no doubt that Chinese chipmakers can achieve revenue growth in the coming years through automotive, consumer electronics and other sectors," said Phelix Lee. 

 Total chip manufacturing sales in mainland China, including manufacturing and design firms, jumped 18% in 2021 to a record high of more than 1 trillion yuan ($150 billion), according to the China Semiconductor Industry Association. No wonder now many customers say the future of electronic components will be in China.

Russia has restricted exports of noble gas, including neon and helium, based on approved government decrees.

These gases are indispensable raw materials for the production of semiconductors.

Russia supplies up to 30% of the world's inert gases. The government document said that exports of noble gas can now only be carried out on the basis 

of the government's decision on the advice of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. This could adversely affect global chip supply.

Vasily Shpak, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia, said on Thursday (June 2) that the policy of restricting the export of rare gases will continue 

until the end of 2022 to strengthen its position in the international market.

Helium and neon are both important components needed to make chips. Neon, in particular, plays a key role in the manufacturing of advanced semiconductors.

Ukraine, once one of the world's largest suppliers of the noble gas, produced about half of the world's neon gas before factories in Mariupol and Odesa 

were shut down by the fighting in March.

Spark told Reuters that Russia's move would provide an opportunity to "rearrange those chains that are now broken and build new ones".

The Russian government has said on May 30 that until December 31, the export of noble gases that Russia used to offer to Japan and other countries will 

only be carried out with special permission from the state.

Russia currently accounts for 30 percent of the global supply of rare gases, according to estimates by the Russian Trade Ministry.

 India's "Economic Times" (The Economic Times) said that according to a resolution of the Russian cabinet of ministers, now only the Russian government 

can decide whether these rare gases can be delivered to the outside world.

Sources told the outlet that it would be more difficult for some countries to produce electronics without Russia's neon, argon and helium.

Russia's export restrictions could exacerbate supply constraints in the global chip market. The move could allow Russia to export these gases in exchange for semiconductor imports.

Taiwan, the world's main chip-producing region, imposed restrictions on chip exports to Russia after the war between Russia & Ukraine on February 24.

The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade has confirmed that the agreements already reached will be taken into account when making decisions on the 

export supply of these gases.