TSMC reported potential export violations to US regulators—twice—amid concerns that Huawei accessed restricted semiconductor technology through intermediaries. The case underscores the challenges of enforcing trade laws as tensions rise over access to advanced chips.

The demand for semiconductor talent in Japan is increasing, especially in Kyushu, where TSMC is establishing wafer fabs, and in Hokkaido, where Rapidus plans to mass-produce 2nm chips. As a result, there are more collaborations between the government, industry, and academic institutions to quickly develop the required talent.

The "crisis theory" surrounding Samsung Electronics has recently garnered widespread attention across various sectors in South Korea. The predicament faced by the country's largest conglomerate not only threatens the company itself but could also impact society, industry, employment, and tax revenues as a whole nation.

Samsung Electronics has launched bold restructuring efforts to boost competitiveness, forming a business task force to enhance R&D and explore new business avenues, according to Businesskorea.

ASML Holding NV CEO Christophe Fouquet expects pressure will grow from the US to further restrict sales of semiconductor technology to China, the biggest market for the Dutch producer of chipmaking machines.

The Biden administration finalized rules for a 25% tax credit for semiconductor manufacturing projects, expanding eligibility for what is likely to be the largest incentive program from the 2022 Chips and Science Act.

The second half of the year is typically a peak season for substrates. Despite market volatility, strong demand for AI continues to drive the global integrated circuit (IC) substrate market. The Taiwan Printed Circuit Association (TPCA) anticipates that the global substrate market will reach US$15.32 billion in 2024, representing a yearly increase of 14.8%. A slight recovery is expected in 2025; however, due to the still low penetration rate of AI products, the supply-demand gap for substrates remains significant.

As the US presidential election heats up, speculation is swirling about whether former President Donald Trump, if re-elected, would cut off subsidies for TSMC's Fab 21 in Arizona. Industry insiders report that TSMC is actively conducting scenario analyses regarding Trump's potential return to the White House.

TSMC's financial report for the third quarter of 2024 has not only delivered impressive results, but its AI prospects have instilled high confidence in the market, subsequently boosting the operational outlook for semiconductor material distributors. However, opinions on non-AI sectors remain relatively mixed among industry players.

Microcontroller unit (MCU) firms have been eagerly venturing into the optical transceiver module market, as silicon photonics (SiPh) technology continues to attract attention. According to Jung-tsung Tsai, president of Holtek Semiconductor, the company has begun development of 400G optical communications modules, and with inventory levels gradually declining, market competition normalizing, and new products gaining momentum, the company projects a promising outlook for 2025.

After a partnership between Taiwan-based Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) and Japan-based SBI Holdings to establish a wafer fab fell through, PSMC is now pursuing a similar project in India, which presents its own set of challenges.