CONNECT WITH US
Wednesday 12 February 2025
CXMT's DRAM rise: a déjà vu from South Korea's past disruption of Japanese dominance
China's ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) is emerging as a formidable player in the global DRAM market, potentially challenging Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix's market dominance. This development bears striking similarities to South Korea's disruption of Japan's memory industry decades ago
LATEST STORIES
Thursday 13 February 2025
Wolfspeed's SiC lead grows, but US IDMs struggle with tariff fallout
Donald Trump's administration is implementing sweeping tariff reforms that reverse many of his predecessor's policies. The US has initiated a Section 301 investigation targeting China's mature semiconductor manufacturing and third-generation silicon carbide (SiC) technologies. With the Trump administration showing no signs of halting the probe, the investigation appears set to continue
Thursday 13 February 2025
Taiyo Yuden raises fiscal 2024 projections; cites improved outlook for components demand from data centers
Japanese electronic components supplier Taiyo Yuden has revised its financial forecast for fiscal 2024 (ending March 31, 2025), expecting year-over-year increases in revenue and operating profit
Thursday 13 February 2025
Apple and Foxconn face steep hurdles in Nissan stakes bid amid Honda merger collapse
The proposed merger between Honda and Nissan has reached an impasse, while Renault is preparing to reduce its 36% ownership in Nissan. This development has sparked speculation about potential new investors, notably Apple and Foxconn
Thursday 13 February 2025
SEA smartphone shipments see 11% YoY increase in 2024; Chinese companies dominate top spots
Canalys reported on February 11, 2025, that Southeast Asia's smartphone market rebounded in 2024, growing 11% year-over-year after two years of decline, with 96.7 million units shipped. Oppo led the market for the first time with an 18% share, followed closely by Samsung Electronics (Samsung) (17%), while Transsion and Xiaomi shared third place (16%), and Vivo rounded out the top five (13%)
Wednesday 12 February 2025
SMIC eyes automotive sector growth to counter rising competition and pressures in China's chip market
In its latest earnings call, China's leading pure-play foundry, SMIC, acknowledged an increase in domestic competition, resulting in a growing supply even as demand begins to recover. The company is aiming to capture a larger share of revenue from the automotive sector, driven by the heightened competitiveness among Chinese automakers
Wednesday 12 February 2025
Trump's first-term SiC squeeze catalyze China's industry growth
US President Donald Trump's first-term restrictions on silicon carbide (SiC), intended to limit China's access to the crucial third-generation semiconductor material under national security concerns, have had an unintended effect: catalyzing unprecedented growth in China's domestic SiC industry. By the start of Trump's second term in 2025, Chinese manufacturers had developed capabilities that could fundamentally alter the global SiC landscape
Wednesday 12 February 2025
USI 2024: automotive and cloud growth fails to offset profit slump
Universal Scientific Industrial's (USI) full-year performance reveals steady revenue but deteriorating profitability in 2024. While revenue met market expectations, net profit fell short of analyst projections, indicating sustained margin compression. Despite asset expansion, weakening profitability metrics impacted shareholder returns
Wednesday 12 February 2025
China's automotive ambitions drive merger of state-owned giants
Two of China's largest state-owned automotive enterprises have announced plans for a strategic reorganization. Dongfeng Motor Corporation and Changan Automobile (Changan), both under the China South Industries Group Corporation, are preparing for what would become the first significant consolidation among Chinese car manufacturers in 2025, attracting significant market attention
Wednesday 12 February 2025
Apple reportedly drops DeepSeek, partners with Alibaba on China AI integration
Apple is partnering with Alibaba Group to introduce artificial intelligence features in China, strengthening its position in a crucial market where it has struggled to establish a strong AI presence
Wednesday 12 February 2025
SMIC faces profit decline amid rising competition and low returns from high-end chip manufacturing
Despite a surge in sales, SMIC is still facing a decline in profit due to increasing competition from other Chinese foundries. Additionally, the company remains committed to supporting high-end chip manufacturing, even though it is likely to yield low returns. The fourth quarter, typically an off-season period, has further contributed to lower utilization rates and a decrease in wafer production
Wednesday 12 February 2025
China's 2025 auto battle: subsidies, price wars, and foreign retreats
Shortly after taking office, US President Donald Trump took an aggressive stance against electric vehicles (EVs) and wind power, while the European Union (EU) and automakers remain locked in a tug-of-war over carbon emission penalties. In stark contrast, China's new energy vehicle (NEV) market continues to expand, bolstered by strong government support
Wednesday 12 February 2025
Taiwanese PCB manufacturers shift focus to SEA as Trump tariffs fuel US-China tensions
With the start of the Trump 2.0 administration, the global PCB industry is preparing for changes, especially in Southeast Asia's competitive environment. China's PCB sector is expected to grow rapidly in 2024, reflecting a wider investment trend in Thailand. This situation offers challenges and opportunities for Taiwanese manufacturers
Wednesday 12 February 2025
Isuzu to build new US assembly plant by 2027
Japanese automaker Isuzu Motors is planning to build a new pickup truck assembly plant in the US by 2027 that will produce electric vehicles (EV) and gas-powered cars
Wednesday 12 February 2025
DeepSeek to drive 107% annual growth in China smart glasses market
Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has captured global attention in recent weeks with its R1 inference model, which the company claims matches OpenAI's o1 model in performance while requiring significantly lower development costs. This breakthrough has resonated throughout the AI industry, particularly for its potential to reduce both development and operational expenses for businesses
Wednesday 12 February 2025
DeepSeek remains tethered to Nvidia ecosystem despite Chinese AI chip support
Since February 1, 2025, 16 Chinese AI chip manufacturers have announced support for or launched services based on the DeepSeek model. This development raises questions about the impact on the Chinese market and the evolving competition between Nvidia and local AI chip manufacturers
Samsung expands mobile phone production beyond Asian countries, says DIGITIMES Research
SLMs to increase presence in GenAI business opportunities, says DIGITIMES Research
Generative AI market to reach US$1.5 trillion by 2030 with Taiwan holds hardware advantage; software and services to see promising future, says DIGITIMES Research