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Thursday 12 February 2026
SMIC warns AI pull-forward is rewriting chip cycle, lifts mature-node pricing
The global foundry industry is undergoing a structural shift, and it is emerging first in mature process nodes once widely considered oversupplied. SMIC stated on February 11 that its performance in the first quarter of 2025 defied seasonality. Utilization held steady from the prior quarter, and pricing for mature nodes has begun to stabilize
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Thursday 12 February 2026
China's Lenovo profit drops 21% even as revenue climbs 18%, flags memory shortage pressure
Lenovo Group reported a 21% decline in third-quarter profit but exceeded analyst expectations as strong revenue growth, driven by artificial intelligence (AI) demand, helped offset margin pressures. The company also warned of mounting pressure on PC shipments due to a worsening memory-chip shortage
Thursday 12 February 2026
Z.ai unveils GLM-5, advances AI agents and China chip compatibility

Ahead of the Lunar New Year, Chinese AI startup Z.ai (formerly Zhipu AI) released its open-source model GLM-5, highlighting AI agent capabilities and coding performance. The company said the user experience is "approaching Anthropic Claude Opus 4.5.

Thursday 12 February 2026
China dominates 90% of South Korea's EV fast-charger modules

South Korea is moving to domestically produce key components for electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers, as Chinese-made power modules account for more than 90% of those installed in the country, according to a Hankyung report

Thursday 12 February 2026
Samsung's premium TV discounts reflect pressure from China's expanding mini LED push
Samsung Electronics' pricing for premium televisions is drawing scrutiny in South Korea as significant gaps emerge between official online prices and aggressive in-store promotional bundles, reflecting mounting competitive pressure from Chinese brands
Wednesday 11 February 2026
Rapidus aims for 2nm ramp in FY2027 with fourfold capacity boost
Rapidus is expected to begin full-scale production in fiscal 2028. Mass production of 2nm-class chips is scheduled to commence in the second half of fiscal 2027, according to Kyoto News. The company's business plan, submitted to Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, outlines a strategy to enter volume production in late fiscal 2027. The plan calls for expanding output approximately fourfold within the first year of operation
Wednesday 11 February 2026
ByteDance reportedly in talks with Samsung on chip development amid US Nvidia curbs

China's ByteDance is developing an artificial intelligence (AI) chip and is in talks with Samsung Electronics to manufacture it, Reuters reported, citing two people familiar with the matter, as the TikTok parent seeks to secure a supply of advanced processors

Wednesday 11 February 2026
Netherlands' China-hawk cabinet signals tighter grip on chip tech
Europe's technology security posture toward China is tightening. The Netherlands is emerging as an early indicator. A new Dutch cabinet dominated by China hawks signals tighter export controls, stricter investment screening, and deeper coordination with US and allied technology-security frameworks. The shift carries potential spillover effects across semiconductor supply chains and EU industrial policy
Wednesday 11 February 2026
TSMC Japan expansion mirrors broader Taiwan tech retreat from China
C. C. Wei, chairman and chief executive of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, announced that the company's 3-nanometer manufacturing technology will be deployed in Japan, marking another major overseas expansion following its investment in advanced fabrication in the US. By contrast, TSMC's plant in Nanjing will remain focused on advanced mature and specialty processes, primarily at the 12- and 16-nanometer nodes
Wednesday 11 February 2026
Silan raises device prices about 10% from March, signaling wider cost pass-through
On February 9, 2026, Hangzhou Silan Microelectronics said that it will raise prices on certain device product categories by about 10% on average starting March 1, 2026, citing severe global metal price volatility and sustained increases in the cost of precious metals used in wafer processing
Wednesday 11 February 2026
TCL narrows gap with Samsung as Chinese TV brands gain ground
Chinese television manufacturers are intensifying pressure on South Korean brands that have long dominated the global market, as shipment growth at companies such as TCL and Hisense contrasts with stagnation at Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics. What began as a volume-driven push is increasingly paired with premium strategies, setting the stage for fiercer competition across the global television industry
Wednesday 11 February 2026
Why SMIC’s full fabs don’t guarantee fatter profits
China's largest contract chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) reported a resilient fourth quarter and record full-year results for 2025, supported by accelerating domestic chip localization and sustained demand for mature-node capacity
Wednesday 11 February 2026
Commentary: Foreign EDA playbook frays as China's domestic camp mobilizes
Qun Ge, global senior vice president and chairman and president of Synopsys China, is set to depart. The move appears routine. But it points to deeper structural shifts in the global EDA industry's China market
Wednesday 11 February 2026
SMIC breaks 2025 revenue record, margins fall to 19.2%
On February 10, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) reported record 2025 revenues, but quarterly gross margins fell to 19.2%. The decline, driven by heavy depreciation costs and shifting smartphone supply chain dynamics, underscores the financial pressure of aggressive capacity expansion despite sustained high utilization across manufacturing facilities
Wednesday 11 February 2026
Alibaba builds Google-class AI stack with 'golden triangle' chip, cloud and model integration
Alibaba has completed the final piece of its AI strategy. T-Head Semiconductor has launched the Zhenwu 810E AI chip, developed in-house by Alibaba across hardware and software. The company's AI structure is now fully visible, built around Tongyi Lab, Alibaba Cloud, and T-Head Semiconductor operating as an integrated trio
Wednesday 11 February 2026
LGD to sell Nanjing automotive LCD module business

LG Display (LGD) agreed on February 9 to sell its automotive LCD module business in Nanjing, China, to Toprun Total Solution, according to a regulatory filing reported by ZDNet Korea. The transaction is valued at approximately KRW104.1 billion (approx. US$71 million) and is scheduled to close on July 30