CONNECT WITH US
Monday 11 August 2025
Samsung, SK Hynix rush to secure Nvidia's SOCAMM supply chain — before it becomes the next HBM

After vying for leadership in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market, South Korea's top memory chipmakers, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, are now racing to commercialize SOCAMM — a next-generation LPDDR-based DRAM module backed by Nvidia as a building block for future AI systems

Monday 11 August 2025
India roundup: US doubles down tariffs on India

The US imposition of a 50% tariff on India puts the country in a difficult position, caught between its energy ties with Russia and its dependence on American technology

Sunday 10 August 2025
Trump's 100% tariff hint stirs concerns despite South Korea's MFN status
US President Donald Trump recently announced tariffs as high as 100% on certain semiconductor products. Although South Korea holds a commitment to "most favored-nation" (MFN) treatment, this move could still impact major players like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix
Saturday 9 August 2025
Tesla orders boost Samsung's Taylor plant; OCI expands semiconductor-grade phosphoric acid production
South Korean materials company OCI recently announced plans to expand its production capacity of semiconductor-grade phosphoric acid. This expansion comes in response to surging customer demand driven by Samsung Electronics' upcoming US Taylor fab, scheduled to begin operations in 2026. OCI aims to strengthen its competitive edge through early equipment investments
Saturday 9 August 2025
South Korea's quintet of alliances for sovereign AI: Kakao notably left out
South Korea is progressing its autonomous AI model development by choosing five key industry alliances—Naver Cloud, SK Telecom, NC AI, LG AI Research, and Upstage. The government plans to invest about KRW1.46 trillion (US$1.05 billion) to create AI models competitive with global leaders
Friday 8 August 2025
Samsung revives Z-NAND after 7 years to supercharge AI with 15x speed gains

Samsung Electronics is reviving its Z-NAND memory technology after a seven-year hiatus, positioning it as a high-performance solution for the growing demands of artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. Announced at the Future of Memory and Storage (FMS) Forum 2025 in the US, the move signals Samsung's renewed push into the premium enterprise storage segment

Friday 8 August 2025
Tariff clarity and car market recovery boost IKKA-KY outlook for 2H25
Japanese company IKKA-KY, which is listed in Taiwan, announced on August 7 its consolidated financial report for the first half of 2025. Consolidated revenue for the period reached NT$1.72 billion (approx. US$57.58 million), roughly flat compared to NT$1.74 billion in the same period of 2024. However, profits were impacted by approximately NT$20 million in exchange rate losses during the first half
Friday 8 August 2025
Chinese companies investigated for illegal poaching of Taiwanese tech talent
The Taiwan Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau is investigating 16 Chinese companies, including major firms such as Victory Giant Technology, Huntkey, and GoerTek, for allegedly recruiting high-tech talent in Taiwan illegally
Friday 8 August 2025
'China for China' becomes new rulebook for Western chipmakers
Rising geopolitical tensions and trade barriers are prompting more US and European chipmakers to accelerate their "China for China" strategy — partnering with local Chinese foundries to localize manufacturing and strengthen supply chain resilience within the country
Friday 8 August 2025
Beijing's grand chip merger vision falters over clashing interests

Beijing's push to restructure its fragmented semiconductor industry is running into sharp resistance. While the effort aims to strengthen domestic competitiveness and reduce foreign dependency, consolidation talks are stalling over valuation gaps, equity disputes, and politically charged local interests, highlighting how national ambition is being dragged down by fragmented governance

Friday 8 August 2025
SMIC flags limited visibility for 4Q25 amid high demand, expects limited tariff impact thanks to clients' preparedness
SMIC warned of weaker chip shipment momentum in the fourth quarter of 2025 due to seasonal effects and customer inventory buildup, noting limited visibility ahead. However, the company believes potential US tariffs would have only a minor impact, with most clients already mitigating risks through stockpiling or alternative sourcing
Friday 8 August 2025
BYD’s Taiwan entry via Denza sparks a spike in trade and security debate

In a move that has reignited Taiwan's automotive and geopolitical debate, Chinese automaker BYD is reportedly seeking to enter the Taiwanese market by introducing its luxury EV brand Denza through a third-party distributor, Hong Kong-based Swire Motors. The revelation, first reported on August 5, comes weeks after earlier speculation that BYD might circumvent existing trade barriers via a third-country route

Friday 8 August 2025
China's equipment market remains elusive as Taiwanese panel makers retreat to Innolux and AUO
China's LCD panel market share has surpassed 70%, establishing absolute dominance in the global market. In recent years, Chinese panel manufacturers have primarily focused on expanding high-generation production lines such as 8.5G, 8.6G, and 10.5G, or directly increasing capacity and market share through mergers and acquisitions. For example, TCL CSOT took over LG Display's Guangzhou 8.5G fab
Friday 8 August 2025
Chinese automakers slip through loopholes of Taiwan's EV barriers
Taiwan's auto industry is facing mounting pressure amid a wave of global disruption, with Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD reportedly holding discreet meetings in Taiwan on August 5, 2025. The development underscores a growing challenge: Taiwan's domestic car industry is struggling to plug regulatory gaps in the face of China's rapid expansion
Friday 8 August 2025
Apple and Samsung to jointly develop new sensor chips in Austin, according to reports
The "frenemy" relationship between Samsung Electronics and Apple, spanning over 20 years, has once again become a focal point. Reports indicate that the two tech giants are deepening cooperation in the US