Renesas Electronics posted a net loss of JPY175.3 billion (approx. US$1.19 billion) in the first half of 2025, swinging from a JPY139.5 billion profit a year earlier. It was the Japanese chipmaker's first-half net loss in five years.
According to Kyodo News and Nikkei, the loss stemmed primarily from the bankruptcy of Wolfspeed, a key US-based silicon carbide (SiC) partner. Wolfspeed filed for Chapter 11 protection in June, prompting Renesas to recognize a JPY235 billion loss under a restructuring support agreement.
First-half revenue declined 11% year-over-year to JPY634.3 billion, impacted by weaker automotive demand and a slowdown in China's economy. Semiconductor shipments, including microcontrollers (MCUs), fell across all segments. Automotive revenue dropped 14%, industrial sales were down 8%, and operating profit tumbled 58%.
For the January–September period, Renesas forecasts a 9% year-over-year revenue decline and expects its operating margin to fall to 27.5%, down 3.1pp from the same stretch in 2024.
Article edited by Jack Wu
