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Monday 2 February 2026
Sanctioned YMTC fast-tracks Wuhan Phase III NAND fab for early 2H26 mass production
China's YMTC is fast-tracking construction of its Wuhan Phase III NAND flash fab, bringing its mass production target forward to the second half of 2026, roughly a year ahead of the original 2027 schedule
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Tuesday 3 February 2026
China's AI chip swarm hits mass scale, chipping away at Nvidia's China stronghold

US export controls are accelerating China's localization of data-center AI chips, with shipment data now pointing to rapid commercial scaling. Across more than a dozen domestic brands, at least nine Chinese AI chip vendors have shipped or secured orders exceeding 10,000 units, spanning platforms backed by major technology groups and a growing group of startups

Tuesday 3 February 2026
YMTC enters LPDDR5 battlefield as China leans on it to steady NAND flash supply
Memory shortages are worsening across the market as international suppliers shift capacity aggressively toward servers, tightening supply for consumer electronics and automotive sectors. China's leading NAND flash producer YMTC is reportedly being assigned a stabilisation role, prioritising support for key domestic industries to maintain supply chain continuity and avoid production disruptions and layoffs
Tuesday 3 February 2026
Foxconn faces tax dispute in Karnataka, prompting government intervention
Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn is embroiled in a local tax dispute in Karnataka, with two gram panchayats issuing notices over alleged unpaid dues and requests for detailed land-use documentation. The development has sparked concerns over the state's investment climate as it seeks to attract high-end electronics manufacturers, according to The Economic Times, Money Control, and India Today
Tuesday 3 February 2026
Trump's India tariff pledge draws skepticism as New Delhi continues to diversify trade ties
A surprise tariff announcement by US President Donald Trump following a call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has eased immediate trade pressure on India, but the lack of detail and India's parallel push to diversify partners suggest the deal may be more tactical than transformative
Tuesday 3 February 2026
Nexperia plans Malaysia expansion in face of geopolitical risks and automotive supply concerns
Geopolitical tensions between the Netherlands and China led to Nexperia halting shipments at the end of 2025, raising concerns over potential disruptions in the automotive semiconductor supply chain and affecting multiple global carmakers. To meet customer demand for a "non-China supply chain," the company is reportedly planning to expand its packaging and testing capacity in Malaysia. The move aims to reduce reliance on its current "European wafer, China packaging" model and prevent future shipment interruptions
Tuesday 3 February 2026
Beijing officially lists 'future industries,' setting the stage for supply chain realignment
China has for the first time formally designated "future industries," with the framework for policy support now taking shape. The move signals a shift away from conceptual discussion, placing these sectors at the core of the country's upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan
Tuesday 3 February 2026
South Korea eyes X-ray lithography in response to ASML's EUV grip

As global competition in semiconductor technology intensifies and protectionist trends tied to national strategy gain momentum, South Korea's industry is emphasizing the need to localize critical equipment. With chipmakers fully reliant on ASML of the Netherlands for extreme ultraviolet lithography tools, industry participants say South Korea must invest in X-ray lithography, a technology still at an early stage of development, to secure long-term competitiveness and reduce dependence on a single supplier

Tuesday 3 February 2026
Analysis: China's AI model race tightens into a three-way contest
China's large language model sector is reaching a decisive inflection point. As requirements for computing resources, capital, and specialized talent continue to climb, the industry is moving from dozens of competing models toward consolidation dominated by three major players
Tuesday 3 February 2026
Sumitomo Bakelite to acquire Kyocera unit, paving way for Chang Wah expansion
Japanese materials maker Sumitomo Bakelite has announced plans to acquire the materials business of Japanese electronic components company Kyocera. Industry observers say the companies' product lines are highly complementary, positioning the deal to deliver stronger synergies. Leveraging Kyocera's strengths in discrete and power products in China is expected to support Sumitomo Bakelite's global market expansion
Monday 2 February 2026
Chinese process control powerhouse Jingce targets nearly triple profit growth in 2025
Wuhan Jingce Electronic Group forecasts net profit of CNY80 million to CNY90 million (approx. US$11.5 million to US$13 million) for 2025, representing year-over-year growth of 181.97% to 192.21%. Net profit excluding non-recurring items is expected to reach CNY21.66 million to CNY31.66 million, up 113.66% to 119.97%, reversing losses from the previous year
Monday 2 February 2026
Semco's Tianjin MLCC plant capacity runs flat out on EV, AI server expansion
Rising automotive electronics demand has pushed Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco)'s Tianjin plant to full capacity across its multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) production lines, with about 8,000 workers running operations 24 hours a day. The Tianjin site is Semco's largest global manufacturing base, focused primarily on automotive MLCCs while also supplying consumer electronics and server markets
Monday 2 February 2026
Kioxia targets data center NAND as rivals chase HBM
Kioxia Holdings sees an opportunity to expand its presence in high-density storage for AI data centers as rivals direct resources to other segments. The company's incoming president said demand tied to artificial intelligence continues to grow and Kioxia will keep capital spending disciplined
Monday 2 February 2026
China breaks into the global top 20 with a trio of chipmaking equipment suppliers
China's drive to localize its semiconductor supply chain is reshaping the global chipmaking equipment industry, with three domestic suppliers now ranking among the world's top 20 for the first time — a shift fueled by heavy investment and tighter US export controls
Monday 2 February 2026
India roundup: EU and India concludes FTA amid global trade disruption
After two decades, India and the EU close an FTA deal as US's tariff policy is disrupting the global supply chain
Monday 2 February 2026
LG shifts TV production to Vietnam, expands webOS reach

LG Electronics is formalizing a shift in its television manufacturing strategy, extending outsourcing beyond China to Vietnam as part of a structural overhaul. The move comes as the company seeks to address intensifying global competition and weakening profitability in the TV market