According to New Daily, citing semiconductor industry sources, the DRAM giants Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron plan to exit the DDR4 market by the first half of 2026 at the latest. Taiwanese firms such as Nanya and Winbond are expected to step in and cover the market shortfall. However, they will likely face intense low-price competition from Chinese rivals
Leading Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker BYD grabbed market headlines in the first quarter of 2025 with the unveiling of its megawatt-level flash charging technology. Silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors played an instrumental role in this technological advancement, as key advantages of the wide bandgap material, including high voltage and temperature resistance and low energy loss, help enhance the efficiency and reliability of electric drive systems to support high-voltage charging
With 2025 being hailed as the inaugural year of the humanoid robot, China's internet giants—Tencent, Baidu, and Alibaba—are accelerating their efforts to secure early dominance in the embodied intelligence industry. What began as isolated initiatives has evolved into a clear trend of strategic alignment, with major players forming increasingly collaborative ecosystems to drive development and commercialization
As interest in humanoid robots surges, Huawei is expanding beyond technology development by deploying capital through its tech investment arm, Shanezen Hubble Technology Investment Partnership (Hubble), to deepen its footprint across semiconductors, AI, and system integration
The Chinese government has escalated its enforcement measures against the smuggling of rare earth metals, intensifying export controls on strategic materials. This crackdown is putting increased pressure on global supply chains for critical resources. Industries reliant on compound semiconductors, notably those using indium phosphide (InP), are experiencing tighter delivery schedules and longer lead times. These constraints threaten the short-term availability of essential wafer materials, potentially impacting important sectors such as 5G telecommunications and defense applications
Alibaba's fourth-quarter results for fiscal 2025 missed market expectations, sending shares down 7.5% in premarket trading. Revenue rose 7% year over year to CNY236.5 billion (US$32.8 billion), narrowly missing the CNY237.2 billion consensus. While net income jumped 279% to CNY12.4 billion, analysts attributed the surge to non-operational gains, including asset disposals and equity revaluations, underscoring lingering pressure on core business fundamentals
Boeing landed its largest-ever single order as Qatar Airways agreed to purchase 210 wide-body aircraft during US President Donald Trump's recent Middle East visit. The deal, announced on April 14, includes 130 Dreamliners and 30 777X jets, with options for 50 additional aircraft, alongside an agreement with GE Aerospace for over 400 engines
Microsoft is reportedly laying off around 6,000 employees, or about 3% of its global workforce, with most of the cuts concentrated in the US. The tech giant has also made organizational changes in the Asia-Pacific region, including some managerial shifts, although large-scale layoffs in markets like Taiwan appear minimal for now. At the same time, Microsoft has posted over 100 job openings across India and other countries in the region, signaling a strategic pivot toward emerging markets
Zhao Weiguo, the former chairman of China's Tsinghua Unigroup and once a high-profile figure in China's semiconductor ambitions, was sentenced on May 14, 2025, to death with a two-year reprieve by the Jilin Intermediate People's Court for embezzlement and abuse of power. The court also imposed a lifelong revocation of his political rights and the confiscation of all personal assets
In the US-China trade war, the focus of US pressure has been on curbing the development of China's high-tech sectors—especially semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and quantum computing, with the first two being closely intertwined
Huawei is now believed to operate at least 11 semiconductor fabrication plants across China, covering memory, logic, and foundry segments—underscoring its strategic shift toward becoming a fully integrated device manufacturer (IDM), similar to Intel or Samsung
Samsung Electronics is reportedly planning to outsource the production of photomasks used in memory manufacturing. To prevent technology leaks, Samsung has traditionally produced all photomasks in-house. However, due to multiple recent factors, the company intends to adjust this strategy
China, having solidified its dominance in the LCD panel market, is now intensifying its push into organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology. A government-driven "trade-in" program has sparked a surge in the domestic smartphone market, with Chinese manufacturers rapidly expanding into the foldable device sector. This strategic focus has significantly accelerated OLED panel production
In a notable breakthrough for global trade, senior officials from the US and China convened in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss a preliminary trade deal. Both nations have agreed to substantial tariff reductions for 90 days, a move expected to relieve the PC components industry and gaming sector by stabilizing prices and alleviating ongoing supply chain disruptions
