Supply constraints of high-purity carbon dioxide (CO2) have triggered alerts for semiconductor manufacturers as stockpiles of the gas continue to shrink amid shortage fears.
According to South Korean media reports, the reduction in CO2 feedstock production stems from the country’s petrochemical industry.
CO2 feedstock is primarily generated as a byproduct of oil refining, petrochemical production, and hydrogen manufacturing.
Ultra-high-purity CO2 (often exceeding 9N) is required in semiconductor manufacturing to prevent contamination during critical fabrication processes.
Ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have disrupted petrochemical markets, reducing plant utilisation rates in countries including South Korea and limiting the availability of CO2 feedstock.
Under industry practice, chipmakers and industrial gas suppliers each maintain around two weeks of inventory, providing a combined one-month safety buffer.
Samsung Electronics consumes around 1,800 to 2,000 tonnes of high-purity CO2 each month, while SK Hynix uses around 600 to 700 tonnes.
However, that buffer has reportedly fallen below the industry’s alert threshold, prompting both companies to step up procurement efforts as inventories continue to decline.
Any prolonged disruption could have implications beyond South Korea. The Asia-Pacific region accounts for around 74.4% of the global semiconductor gas market, which was valued at approximately $12.5bn in 2026, meaning sustained shortages of high-purity CO2 could tighten supply chains for chip manufacturers worldwide.
The entire semiconductor manufacturing chain is reliant on rare, ultra-high-purity specialty gases ©Shutterstock
The latest supply concerns come amid another year of volatility for the semiconductor gas supply chain, with the helium market also showing signs of entering a .
According to reports from March, domestic chipmakers in Korea have enough helium stockpiles to last about
The country relied on Qatar for 64.7% of its helium imports last year, a report from the Korea Times stated, quoting the Korea International Trade Association.
Another key semiconductor material is also seeing sharp price swings. According to China Star Market – citing China’s General Administration of Customs – tungsten hexafluoride (WF6) hit $149.79 per kg in April, up nearly 30% year-on-year and over 200% month-on-month.
WF6 is a precursor gas used to form tungsten films on semiconductor wafers, which act as conductive pathways inside chips.
South Korean media outlet The Elec reported in April that Japan’s Kanto Denka Kohyo and Central Glass had warned South Korean chipmakers of potential supply disruptions. Chemical trading platform ChemNet adds that inventories at two Japanese suppliers are expected to last through May to June.
It has also been reported by ChemNet that Kanto Denka and Central Glass are expected to permanently half production starting July 2026. The two suppliers account for roughly 2,000 to 2,200 tonnes combined, a major portion of the 8,000 to 9,000 tonnes of global annual supply.
The knock-on effects are also extending beyond semiconductor manufacturing. Japan has also raised concerns over imported dry ice supplies, with reduced operating rates at South Korean ethylene plants limiting production, according to journal the Gas Review.
