TCL Zhonghuan, a leading Chinese manufacturer of solar silicon wafers, has reportedly reduced its factory utilization rates, sharply cutting the working hours for its workers, according to industry sources
In mid-October, Yuichi Horita, president of JASM, TSMC's subsidiary in Japan, announced that the fab will operate on 100% renewable energy upon its launch, setting a precedent ahead of TSMC's headquarters in Taiwan. Additionally, construction for the second wafer fab will begin by the end of 2024
Rapidus, the Japanese semiconductor manufacturer aiming for mass production of 2-nanometer (nm) chips, is making significant progress on its first factory located in Chitose, Hokkaido. According to a report by Nikkei, the Agency for New Industry Cluster of Hokkaido (ANIC) estimates that by fiscal year 2036 (ending March 2037), the presence of Rapidus will generate an economic impact totaling around JPY18.8 trillion (approx. US$120 billion)
The Chinese automotive supply chain is facing intense competition, with the industry's profitability continuing to decline. Profit margins have dropped below 5%, prompting Hong Li, president of leading power semiconductor manufacturer CR Micro, to call for an end to blind investments in new factories to escape this relentless cycle of competition
At a public event in China, Jianguo Tang, the chief economist at the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, inadvertently declared that Xiaomi's self-developed 3nm SoC has successfully undergone tape out, which has garnered significant international attention
Former South Korean ministers recently gathered to assess the challenges facing the country's semiconductor industry. They cautioned that while South Korea currently leads globally in the memory sector, the nation could lose its fundamental competitiveness within five years if issues such as technological limitations in the AI era, competition from China, and insufficient power supply are not addressed
Samsung Electronics has been unable to obtain Nvidia's certification for its fifth-generation high-bandwidth memory, the HBM3E, for almost a year. This has led to speculation about the reasons behind this, with some attributing it to the history of tensions between the two giants
China's latest stimulus measures have injected new momentum into its semiconductor industry, particularly benefiting companies focused on "domestic substitution" across the supply chain. However, industry experts warn that this influx of capital may lead to a familiar problem of excessive capacity expansion, potentially damaging the sector rather than strengthening it
As India attempts to become a key player in the global semiconductor industry, comparisons with China's well-established sector are inevitable. While China has dominated semiconductor manufacturing for decades, India is now shaping its path with ambitious policies and investments to build domestic capacity
The 2024 Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and electronicAsia, key indicators for China's consumer electronics supply chain, showcased promising growth in wearable electronics and robotics over the next two years. Emerging markets such as India and the Middle East demonstrated the most potential
Sales of Apple Inc.'s newest iPhones in China are up 20% in their first three weeks compared with 2023's model, a positive sign for a device that struggled this year to gain traction in the world's largest smartphone market
South Korean AI chip startup Rebellions has announced a collaboration with Samsung Foundry, UK-based intellectual property core (IP) provider Arm, and IC design firm ADTechnology to develop an AI CPU chiplet platform
US-based firm Analog Devices says they consider India a crucial center for its R&D efforts, acknowledging the country as a source of engineering talent and a growing market opportunity
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are reportedly advancing high-value-added technologies such as High Bandwidth Memory 4 (HBM4) and Compute Express Link (CXL) to maintain their dominance in memory during the AI era. Both companies face pressure from Chinese competitors, who are ramping up production and engaging in aggressive pricing within the memory market
India reportedly intends to restrict imports of notebooks, tablets, and personal computers starting in January 2025 to promote domestic manufacturing. The proposed measures include a new authorization system and quality standards, which may face resistance from industry stakeholders. Among major brands, Apple is expected to be the most affected by this policy