AMD and Intel have confirmed that they have suspended chip sales to Russia, a move that aligns with some of the export restrictions that the U.S. and other countries have enacted in response to Putin’s move on Ukraine. TSMC has also followed suit, according to a report from The Washington Post, which can confirm that the world’s most advanced semiconductor foundry has stopped all sales to not only Russia, but third parties that supply products to the country. Among the chips that TSMC is no longer sending are Elbrus-branded semiconductors, which are used by Russian military and security.
“Based on sanctions placed on Russia by the United States and other nations, at this time AMD is suspending its sales and distribution of our products into Russia and Belarus,” an AMD representative said in an email to PC World. “It is all AMD products and products we power (PCs, etc) in Russia and Belarus.”
“Intel condemns the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and we have suspended all shipments to customers in both Russia and Belarus, ” reads a statement on the company’s newsroom site. “Our thoughts are with everyone who has been impacted by this war, including the people of Ukraine and the surrounding countries and all those around the world with family, friends and loved ones in the region.”
“We are working to support all of our employees through this difficult situation, especially those with close ties to this region. We have launched an employee donation and matching campaign through the Intel Foundation that has already raised over $1.2 million for relief efforts, and we are proud of the work our teams in surrounding areas including Poland, Germany and Romania are doing to aid refugees. We will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine and the global community in calling for an immediate end to this war and a swift return to peace.”
AMD, Intel halt chip sales to Russia (PC World)
- On Feb. 24, the U.S. Department of Commerce implemented a new Commerce Control List-based license requirement for Russia. This requirement restricts exports to the country for key industries including “microelectronics,” avionics, navigation equipment, and more.
- A source close to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world’s largest and most important fab, told the Washington Post that the foundry has suspended all sales to Russia and to third parties that supply products to Russia. On the record, however, a TSMC representative told the paper that it would simply comply with the new export rules.
- Compared to the overall market, however, chip sales to Russia represent a small fraction of total sales. On Feb. 24, the Semiconductor Industry Association released a statement that characterized Russia as “not a significant direct consumer” of semiconductors.
- “While the impact of the new rules to Russia could be significant, Russia is not a significant direct consumer of semiconductors, accounting for less than 0.1% of global chip purchases, according to the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization,” the SIA said in a statement.